Chapter XXVIII · Location 28 of 42
Chapter 28 · Open to readFrom Job · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What does Job Chapter 28 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
Job describes metals, difficult paths and searching concealed things. He asks where wisdom is found and says precious materials cannot purchase it. He speaks of God’s knowledge and quotes fear of the Lord and departure from evil as wisdom and understanding.
Chapter breakdown
Job describes veins of silver, places where gold is melted, iron taken from earth and stone heated into brass. He speaks of setting a time for darkness and considering the end, dark stone and the shadow of death. The difficult wording says a flood divides from people on their journey, forgotten by the needy and those unable to reach it; it does not expressly describe mining shafts or a highway. Land that yields bread is overturned with fire, with sapphire stones and clods of gold. A bird and vulture do not know the path; children of merchants and the lioness do not tread it. Hands reach flint, overturn mountain roots, cut rivers in rocks, search precious things and bring concealed things to light.
Job asks where wisdom is found and understanding dwells. Its price is unknown and it is not found in the land of those living in delights; the depth and sea say it is not with them. Gold, silver, dyed colors of India, sardonyx, sapphire, crystal, vessels of gold and high things cannot be exchanged for it; Ethiopia's topaz and the cleanest dye do not match it. It is hidden from living eyes and birds; destruction and death have heard its fame.
Job says God understands its way and place, beholds the world's ends and all under heaven, weighs winds, measures waters and appoints rain and storms. He saw, declared, prepared and searched wisdom, then said to man that fear of the Lord is wisdom and departure from evil understanding. The separate heading distinguishes human industry from wisdom received from God.
The story inside
Opening: Job describes metals, difficult paths and searching concealed things. Development: He asks where wisdom is found and says precious materials cannot purchase it. Conclusion: He speaks of God’s knowledge and quotes fear of the Lord and departure from evil as wisdom and understanding.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1Job describes metals, difficult paths and searching concealed things.
- 2He asks where wisdom is found and says precious materials cannot purchase it.
- 3He speaks of God’s knowledge and quotes fear of the Lord and departure from evil as wisdom and understanding.
Test your recall
Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?
Source edition and notes
Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.
Lines 56361–56362
Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.
Lines 56396–56397
But where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
Lines 56417–56418
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.
Lines 56443–56444
And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.
