Job 28

1“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

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

3Man puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness.

4Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.

5Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.

6Its rocks are the source of sapphires, containing flecks of gold.

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

8Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it.

9The miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base.

10He hews out channels in the rocks, and his eyes spot every treasure.

11He stops up the sources of the streams to bring what is hidden to light.

12But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell?

13No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.

14The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’

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

16It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.

17Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.

18Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

19Topaz from Cush cannot compare to it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.

20From where, then, does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell?

21It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air.

22Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor about it.’

23But God understands its way, and He knows its place.

24For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

25When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters,

26when He set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt,

27then He looked at wisdom and appraised it; He established it and searched it out.

28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

1Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit.

2Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

3Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.

4Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve.

5Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD or what His hands have done, He will tear them down and never rebuild them.

6Blessed be the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy.

7The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.

8The LORD is the strength of His people, a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.

9Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them forever.