Job's discourse on wisdom
1
“Surely there is a source for silver, || And a place for the gold they refine;
2
Iron is taken from the dust, || And bronze [from] the firm stone.
3
He has set an end to darkness, || And he is searching to all perfection, || A stone of darkness and death-shade.
4
A stream has broken out from a sojourner, || Those forgotten of the foot, || They were low, they wandered from man.
5
The earth! Bread comes forth from it, || And its under-part is turned like fire.
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A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, || And it has dust of gold.
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A path—a ravenous bird has not known it, || Nor has an eye of the falcon scorched it,
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Nor have the sons of pride trodden it, || The fierce lion has not passed over it.
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He sent forth his hand against the flint, || He overturned mountains from the root.
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Among rocks, he has cleaved brooks, || And his eye has seen every precious thing.
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He has bound overflowing rivers, || And the hidden thing brings out [to] light.
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And the wisdom—from where is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
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Man has not known its arrangement, || Nor is it found in the land of the living.
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The deep has said, It [is] not in me, || And the sea has said, It is not with me.
15
Gold is not given for it, || Nor is silver weighed—its price.
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It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, || With precious onyx and sapphire,
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Gold and crystal do not equal it, || Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
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Corals and pearl are not remembered, || The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.
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The topaz of Cush does not equal it, || It is not valued with pure gold.
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And the wisdom—from where does it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
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It has been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the bird of the heavens || It has been hidden.
22
Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard its fame.
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God has understood its way, || And He has known its place.
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For He looks to the ends of the earth, || He sees under the whole heavens,
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To make a weight for the wind, || And He meted out the waters in measure.
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In His making for the rain a limit, || And a way for the brightness of the voices,
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Then He has seen and declares it, || He has prepared it, and also searched it out,
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And He says to man: Behold, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, || And to turn from evil [is] understanding.”
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