VerseAI

NIV

Job 28

  1. 1<pb/><t>There is a mine for silver</t> <t>and a place where gold is refined.</t>
  2. 2<t>Iron is taken from the earth,</t> <t>and copper is smelted from ore.</t>
  3. 3<t>Mortals put an end to the darkness;</t> <t>they search out the farthest recesses</t> <t>for ore in the blackest darkness.</t>
  4. 4<t>Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,</t> <t>in places untouched by human feet;</t> <t>far from other people they dangle and sway.</t>
  5. 5<t>The earth, from which food comes,</t> <t>is transformed below as by fire;</t>
  6. 6<t>lapis lazuli comes from its rocks,</t> <t>and its dust contains nuggets of gold.</t>
  7. 7<t>No bird of prey knows that hidden path,</t> <t>no falcon’s eye has seen it.</t>
  8. 8<t>Proud beasts do not set foot on it,</t> <t>and no lion prowls there.</t>
  9. 9<t>People assault the flinty rock with their hands</t> <t>and lay bare the roots of the mountains.</t>
  10. 10<t>They tunnel through the rock;</t> <t>their eyes see all its treasures.</t>
  11. 11<t>They search<f>[42]</f> the sources of the rivers</t> <t>and bring hidden things to light. <pb/></t>
  12. 12<t>But where can wisdom be found?</t> <t>Where does understanding dwell?</t>
  13. 13<t>No mortal comprehends its worth;</t> <t>it cannot be found in the land of the living.</t>
  14. 14<t>The deep says, “It is not in me”;</t> <t>the sea says, “It is not with me.”</t>
  15. 15<t>It cannot be bought with the finest gold,</t> <t>nor can its price be weighed out in silver.</t>
  16. 16<t>It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,</t> <t>with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.</t>
  17. 17<t>Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,</t> <t>nor can it be had for jewels of gold.</t>
  18. 18<t>Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;</t> <t>the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.</t>
  19. 19<t>The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;</t> <t>it cannot be bought with pure gold. <pb/></t>
  20. 20<t>Where then does wisdom come from?</t> <t>Where does understanding dwell?</t>
  21. 21<t>It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,</t> <t>concealed even from the birds in the sky.</t>
  22. 22<t>Destruction<f>[43]</f> and Death say,</t> <t>“Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”</t>
  23. 23<t>God understands the way to it</t> <t>and he alone knows where it dwells,</t>
  24. 24<t>for he views the ends of the earth</t> <t>and sees everything under the heavens.</t>
  25. 25<t>When he established the force of the wind</t> <t>and measured out the waters,</t>
  26. 26<t>when he made a decree for the rain</t> <t>and a path for the thunderstorm,</t>
  27. 27<t>then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;</t> <t>he confirmed it and tested it.</t>
  28. 28<t>And he said to the human race,</t> <t>“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,</t> <t>and to shun evil is understanding.”</t>