Job 28:1–12

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found

28 There is a mine for silver

and a place where gold is refined.h

2 Iron is taken from the earth,

and copper is smelted from ore.i

3 Mortals put an end to the darkness;j

they search out the farthest recesses

for ore in the blackest darkness.k

4 Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,l

in places untouched by human feet;

far from other people they dangle and sway.

5 The earth, from which food comes,m

is transformed below as by fire;

6 lapis lazulin comes from its rocks,

and its dust contains nuggets of gold.o

7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path,

no falcon’s eye has seen it.p

8 Proud beastsq do not set foot on it,

and no lion prowls there.r

9 People assault the flinty rocks with their hands

and lay bare the roots of the mountains.t

10 They tunnel through the rock;u

their eyes see all its treasures.v

11 They searcha the sources of the riversw

and bring hidden thingsx to light.

12 But where can wisdom be found?y

Where does understanding dwell?z