Job 28

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.	1 There is indeed a mine for silver, and a place for gold which men refine.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.	2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is melted out of stone.
3 Men put an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness.	3 He has set a boundary for the darkness; to the farthest confines he penetrates.
4 They open shafts in a valley away from where men live; they are forgotten by travelers, they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.
5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire.	5 The earth, though out of it comes forth bread, is in fiery upheaval underneath.
6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.	6 Its stones are the source of sapphires, and there is gold in its dust.
7 "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.	7 The path to it no bird of prey knows, nor has the hawk's eye seen that path.
8 The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.	8 The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor has the lion gone that way.
9 "Man puts his hand to the flinty rock, and overturns mountains by the roots.	9 He sets his hand to the flinty rock, and overturns the mountains at their foundations.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.	10 He splits channels in the rocks; his eyes behold all that is precious.
11 He binds up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hid he brings forth to light.	11 He probes the wellsprings of the streams, and brings hidden things to light.
12 "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?	12 But whence can wisdom be obtained, and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living.	13 Man knows nothing to equal it, nor is it to be had in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'	14 The abyss declares, "It is not in me"; and the sea says, "I have it not."
15 It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.	15 Solid gold cannot purchase it, nor can its price be paid with silver.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.	16 It cannot be bought with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx or the sapphire.
17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.	17 Gold or crystal cannot equal it, nor can golden vessels reach its worth.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.	18 Neither coral nor jasper should be thought of; it surpasses pearls and
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.	19 Arabian topaz.
20 "Whence then comes wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?	20 Whence, then, comes wisdom, and where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hid from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.	21 It is hid from the eyes of any beast; from the birds of the air it is concealed.
22 Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'	22 Abaddon and Death say, "Only by rumor have we heard of it."
23 "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.	23 God knows the way to it; it is he who is familiar with its place.
24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens.	24 For he beholds the ends of the earth and sees all that is under the heavens.
25 When he gave to the wind its weight, and meted out the waters by measure;	25 He has weighed out the wind, and fixed the scope of the waters;
26 when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder;	26 When he made rules for the rain and a path for the thunderbolts,
27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.	27 Then he saw wisdom and appraised it, gave it its setting, knew it through and through.
28 And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'"	28 And to man he said: Behold, the fear of the LORD is wisdom; and avoiding evil is understanding.