Job 28:1-17

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found 1There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

2Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.

3Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.

4Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.

5The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;

6lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.

7No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.

8Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.

9People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.

10They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.

11They search Septuagint, Aquila and Vulgate; Hebrew They dam up the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.

12But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?

13No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.

14The deep says, “It is not in me”; the sea says, “It is not with me.”

15It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

16It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.

17Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.