Job 28:1-28 NIrV

[1] There are mines where silver is found. There are places where gold is purified. [2] Iron is taken out of the earth. Copper is melted down from ore. [3] Human beings light up the darkness. They search for ore in the deepest pits. They look for it in the blackest darkness. [4] Far from where people live they cut a tunnel. They do it in places where other people don’t go. Far away from people they swing back and forth on ropes. [5] Food grows on the surface of the earth. But far below, the earth is changed as if by fire. [6] Lapis lazuli is taken from the rocky earth. Its dust contains nuggets of gold. [7] No bird knows that hidden path. No falcon’s eye has seen it. [8] Proud animals don’t walk on it. Lions don’t prowl there. [9] Human hands attack the hardest rock. Their strong hands uncover the base of the mountains. [10] They tunnel through the rock. Their eyes see all its treasures. [11] They search the places where the rivers begin. They bring hidden things out into the light. [12] But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding live? [13] No human being understands how much it’s worth. It can’t be found anywhere in the world. [14] The ocean says, “It’s not in me.” The sea says, “It’s not here either.” [15] It can’t be bought with the finest gold. Its price can’t be weighed out in silver. [16] It can’t be bought with gold from Ophir. It can’t be bought with priceless onyx or lapis lazuli. [17] Gold or crystal can’t compare with it. It can’t be bought with jewels made of gold. [18] Don’t bother to talk about coral and jasper. Wisdom is worth far more than rubies. [19] A topaz from Cush can’t compare with it. It can’t be bought with the purest gold. [20] So where does wisdom come from? Where does understanding live? [21] It’s hidden from the eyes of every living thing. Even the birds in the sky can’t find it. [22] Death and the Grave say, “Only reports about it have reached our ears.” [23] But God understands the way to it. He is the only one who knows where it lives. [24] He sees from one end of the earth to the other. He views everything in the world. [25] He made the mighty wind. He measured out the waters. [26] He gave orders for the rain to fall. He made paths for the thunderstorms. [27] Then he looked at wisdom and set its price. He established it and tested it. [28] He said to human beings, “Have respect for the Lord. That will prove you are wise. Avoid evil. That will show you have understanding.”