Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:
The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Job 28 stands out as a unique chapter, resonating with the wisdom literature found in Proverbs. It delves into the profound question: Where can wisdom be found? The chapter presents a powerful contrast between humanity's relentless pursuit of earthly treasures and the elusive nature of true wisdom.
Job 28:1-11 paints a vivid picture of the miner's relentless quest for precious metals. To obtain silver and gold, these individuals undertake extraordinary feats. They cut shafts deep into the earth, probe the very foundations of mountains, and venture into the darkest, most hidden recesses to unearth treasures that lie concealed. This imagery emphasizes the lengths to which humans will go to acquire material wealth.
However, the chapter then shifts its focus, posing a critical question: "But where can wisdom be found?" (Job 28:12). This question lies at the heart of the chapter. The pursuit of earthly riches, no matter how arduous, pales in comparison to the search for wisdom.
Job 28:12-19 emphasizes the priceless nature of wisdom. No amount of gold or precious jewels can buy it. The price of wisdom is beyond pearls (Job 28:18). The point is clear: wisdom cannot be bought, traded, or earned through human effort alone. No matter how much wealth one possesses, it is insufficient to acquire true wisdom. If you ask, “How much does it cost to buy some wisdom?” the answer will always be, “More than you’ve got.”
The chapter further asks, "Where . . . does wisdom come from?" (Job 28:20). The answer is not found in the depths of the earth or in the treasures it holds. Only God understands the way to wisdom (Job 28:23). He is the ultimate source of wisdom and demonstrates it in all His actions (Job 28:24-27). God's wisdom is not a commodity to be discovered but a divine attribute to be sought.
So, how can we become wise? God reveals the key: "The fear of the LORD—that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding" (Job 28:28). This verse echoes the sentiments found in Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10, suggesting a profound connection between the books of Job and Proverbs.
To truly possess wisdom and understanding, to navigate life effectively in a world filled with challenges, we must fear the Lord. This means taking God seriously, embracing His kingdom agenda for our lives, even when we don't fully understand where it will lead. It means acknowledging His sovereignty, obeying His commands, and trusting in His guidance. The good news is that God knows where it leads.
In essence, Job 28 teaches us that true wisdom is not found in material wealth or human ingenuity, but in a reverent relationship with God. It is a gift bestowed upon those who seek Him with humility and a willingness to turn away from evil. It is a wisdom that transcends earthly treasures and guides us towards a life of purpose and meaning.
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:
The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Job 28 stands out as a unique chapter, resonating with the wisdom literature found in Proverbs. It delves into the profound question: Where can wisdom be found? The chapter presents a powerful contrast between humanity's relentless pursuit of earthly treasures and the elusive nature of true wisdom.
Job 28:1-11 paints a vivid picture of the miner's relentless quest for precious metals. To obtain silver and gold, these individuals undertake extraordinary feats. They cut shafts deep into the earth, probe the very foundations of mountains, and venture into the darkest, most hidden recesses to unearth treasures that lie concealed. This imagery emphasizes the lengths to which humans will go to acquire material wealth.
However, the chapter then shifts its focus, posing a critical question: "But where can wisdom be found?" (Job 28:12). This question lies at the heart of the chapter. The pursuit of earthly riches, no matter how arduous, pales in comparison to the search for wisdom.
Job 28:12-19 emphasizes the priceless nature of wisdom. No amount of gold or precious jewels can buy it. The price of wisdom is beyond pearls (Job 28:18). The point is clear: wisdom cannot be bought, traded, or earned through human effort alone. No matter how much wealth one possesses, it is insufficient to acquire true wisdom. If you ask, “How much does it cost to buy some wisdom?” the answer will always be, “More than you’ve got.”
The chapter further asks, "Where . . . does wisdom come from?" (Job 28:20). The answer is not found in the depths of the earth or in the treasures it holds. Only God understands the way to wisdom (Job 28:23). He is the ultimate source of wisdom and demonstrates it in all His actions (Job 28:24-27). God's wisdom is not a commodity to be discovered but a divine attribute to be sought.
So, how can we become wise? God reveals the key: "The fear of the LORD—that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding" (Job 28:28). This verse echoes the sentiments found in Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10, suggesting a profound connection between the books of Job and Proverbs.
To truly possess wisdom and understanding, to navigate life effectively in a world filled with challenges, we must fear the Lord. This means taking God seriously, embracing His kingdom agenda for our lives, even when we don't fully understand where it will lead. It means acknowledging His sovereignty, obeying His commands, and trusting in His guidance. The good news is that God knows where it leads.
In essence, Job 28 teaches us that true wisdom is not found in material wealth or human ingenuity, but in a reverent relationship with God. It is a gift bestowed upon those who seek Him with humility and a willingness to turn away from evil. It is a wisdom that transcends earthly treasures and guides us towards a life of purpose and meaning.