28:13Job stated that wisdom cannot be found among the living, It is natural for people who do not understand the importance of God’s Word to seek wisdom here on earth. They look to philosophers and other leaders to give them direction for living. Yet Job said that wisdom is not found there. No leader Or group of teaders can produce enough knowledge or insight to explain the totality of human experience. The ultimate interpretation of life, of who we are and where we are going, must come from outside and above our mortal life. When looking for guidance, seek God’s wisdom as revealed in the Bible. To be lifted above and beyond the boundaries of life. we must know and trust the LORD of life.
Life Application Study BibleJobChapter 28
Job 28
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 819, 820
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
28Job 28
1and how to refine gold. 2They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock. 3They know how to shine light in the darkness and explore the farthest regions of the earth as they search in the dark for ore. 4They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth. 5Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire. 6Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli, and the dust contains gold. ? These are treasures no bird of prey can see, no falcon’s eye observe. 8No wild animal has walked upon these treasures; no lion has ever set his paw there. 9People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains. 10They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones. 11They dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures.
12“But do people know where to find wisdom?Where can they find understanding?
13No one knows where to find it,for it is not found among the living.
14‘It is not here,’ says the ocean.‘Nor is it here, says the sea.
15It cannot be bought with gold.It cannot be purchased with silver.
16It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir,greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.
18Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it.The price of wisdom is far above rubies.
19Precious peridot from Ethiopia* cannot be exchanged for it.It’s worth more than the purest gold.
20“But do people know where to find wisdom?Where can they find understanding?
21It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
22Destruction* and Death say,‘We've heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.
23“God alone understands the way to wisdom;he knows where it can be found,24 for he looks throughout the whole earthand sees everything under the heavens.
25He decided how hard the winds should blowand how much rain should fall.
26He made the laws for the rainand laid out a path for the lightning.
27Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
28And this is what he says to all humanity:‘The fear of the LORD is true wisdom;to forsake evil is real understanding.”
Textual footnotes
- 28:19 Hebrew from Cush.
- 28:22 Hebrew Abaddon.
Life Application Notes 3 notes
28:16Gold of Ophir was considered the finest gold available Ophir may have been located in Africa, along the Arabian coast or in India, Wherever it was, it was a good distance from Israel, for it took Solomon’s ships three years to make the voyage (1 Kings 9:28; 10:22).
28:28“The fear of the LORD” is a key theme in the wisdom literature of the Bible (Job through Song of Songs). It means to have respect and reverence for God and to be in awe of his majesty and power. This is the starting point to finding real wisdom (see Proverbs 1:7-9).