智慧頌

28 「銀從礦中採取,
金有冶煉之地,
鐵從地下挖掘,
銅從石中提煉。
世人探尋黑暗的盡頭,
搜索幽暗的深處,
要得隱藏的礦石。
他們在杳無人煙、人蹤絕跡之地開礦,
他們遠離人群,懸在半空搖來搖去。
大地出產糧食,
地下烈火熊熊。
地下的石頭出藍寶石,
還蘊藏著金沙。
礦中的路徑,猛禽不知道,
鷹眼也未曾見過,
猛獸未曾踏足,
獅子未曾經過。
世人開鑿堅石,
翻動山的根基,
10 在岩石中鑿通道,
一覽各樣的寶藏。
11 他們把水流截斷,
使隱藏之物顯露。

12 「然而,智慧何處尋?
聰明之道在哪裡?
13 無人知道智慧的價值,
人世間找不到她。
14 深淵說,『她不在我裡面。』
海洋說,『她不在我這裡。』
15 金子買不到她,
銀子換不來她;
16 俄斐的金子無法與她相比,
紅瑪瑙和藍寶石不能與她媲美;
17 黃金和水晶無法與她相比,
純金的器皿不能與她兌換;
18 珊瑚和碧玉不能與她相提並論,
紅寶石的價值遠不如她;
19 古實的黃玉無法與她相比,
純金不能與她等量齊觀。

20 「然而,智慧何處尋?
聰明之道在哪裡?
21 眾生的眼睛看不見她,
空中的飛鳥找不到她。
22 毀滅和死亡說,
『我們只風聞其名。』
23 上帝認識通往智慧的路,
祂知道智慧在哪裡,
24 因祂縱覽地極,
遍察天下萬物。
25 祂定下風的重量,
量出水的規模;
26 祂頒佈雨露的規律,
劃定雷電的路線。
27 那時祂已看見智慧,並評估她,
堅立她,探察她。
28 祂對世人說,『敬畏主就是智慧,
遠離惡便是聰明。』」

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found

28 There is a mine for silver
    and a place where gold is refined.(A)
Iron is taken from the earth,
    and copper is smelted from ore.(B)
Mortals put an end to the darkness;(C)
    they search out the farthest recesses
    for ore in the blackest darkness.(D)
Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,(E)
    in places untouched by human feet;
    far from other people they dangle and sway.
The earth, from which food comes,(F)
    is transformed below as by fire;
lapis lazuli(G) comes from its rocks,
    and its dust contains nuggets of gold.(H)
No bird of prey knows that hidden path,
    no falcon’s eye has seen it.(I)
Proud beasts(J) do not set foot on it,
    and no lion prowls there.(K)
People assault the flinty rock(L) with their hands
    and lay bare the roots of the mountains.(M)
10 They tunnel through the rock;(N)
    their eyes see all its treasures.(O)
11 They search[a] the sources of the rivers(P)
    and bring hidden things(Q) to light.

12 But where can wisdom be found?(R)
    Where does understanding dwell?(S)
13 No mortal comprehends its worth;(T)
    it cannot be found in the land of the living.(U)
14 The deep(V) says, “It is not in me”;
    the sea(W) says, “It is not with me.”
15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
    nor can its price be weighed out in silver.(X)
16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,(Y)
    with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.(Z)
17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,(AA)
    nor can it be had for jewels of gold.(AB)
18 Coral(AC) and jasper(AD) are not worthy of mention;
    the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.(AE)
19 The topaz(AF) of Cush(AG) cannot compare with it;
    it cannot be bought with pure gold.(AH)

20 Where then does wisdom come from?
    Where does understanding dwell?(AI)
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
    concealed even from the birds in the sky.(AJ)
22 Destruction[b](AK) and Death(AL) say,
    “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 God understands the way to it
    and he alone(AM) knows where it dwells,(AN)
24 for he views the ends of the earth(AO)
    and sees everything under the heavens.(AP)
25 When he established the force of the wind
    and measured out the waters,(AQ)
26 when he made a decree for the rain(AR)
    and a path for the thunderstorm,(AS)
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
    he confirmed it and tested it.(AT)
28 And he said to the human race,
    “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
    and to shun evil(AU) is understanding.”(AV)

Footnotes

  1. Job 28:11 Septuagint, Aquila and Vulgate; Hebrew They dam up
  2. Job 28:22 Hebrew Abaddon