Job 28 Summary

Job describes the mining of silver and gold, the extraction of iron and brass from stone. Men search out precious things and set bounds to darkness, finding sapphires and dust of gold in the earth, yet there is a path to wisdom that no fowl knows and the vulture's eye has not seen. God breaks through the mountains, cuts rivers among rocks, and brings hidden things to light, but wisdom cannot be found in any land of the living. The depth says it is not within, the sea says it is not there, and it cannot be purchased with gold, silver, or precious stones of any kind. However, God understands the way of wisdom and knows its place, for He looks to the ends of the earth, weighs the winds and waters, and made decrees for rain and lightning. Therefore, God says to man: the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.