Job 28:20-28

²⁰ Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? ²¹ It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky. ²² Destruction [1] and Death say, "Only a rumor of it has reached our ears." ²³ God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, ²⁴ for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. ²⁵ When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, ²⁶ when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, ²⁷ then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. ²⁸ And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."

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Other Translations of Job 28:20-28

King James Version

²⁰ Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? ²¹ Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. air: or, heaven ²² Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. ²³ God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. ²⁴ For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; ²⁵ To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. ²⁶ When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: ²⁷ Then did he see it, and declare declare...: or, number it it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. ²⁸ And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

English Standard Version

²⁰ "From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? ²¹ It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. ²² Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.' ²³ "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. ²⁴ For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. ²⁵ When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, ²⁶ when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, ²⁷ then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. ²⁸ And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

The Message

²⁰ "So where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live? ²¹ It can't be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly. ²² If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, 'We've only heard rumors of it.' ²³ "God alone knows the way to Wisdom, he knows the exact place to find it. ²⁴ He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven. ²⁵ After he commanded the winds to blow and measured out the waters, ²⁶ Arranged for the rain and set off explosions of thunder and lightning, ²⁷ He focused on Wisdom, made sure it was all set and tested and ready. ²⁸ Then he addressed the human race: 'Here it is! Fear-of-the-Lord - that's Wisdom, and Insight means shunning evil.'"

New King James Version

²⁰ "From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? ²¹ It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air. ²² Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a report about it with our ears.' ²³ God understands its way, And He knows its place. ²⁴ For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens, ²⁵ To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure. ²⁶ When He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt, ²⁷ Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out. ²⁸ And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.' "

New Living Translation

²⁰ "But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? ²¹ It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it. ²² Destruction 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 earth and sees everything under the heavens. ²⁵ He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall. ²⁶ He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning. ²⁷ Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. ²⁸ And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'"

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 28:20-28

Commentary on Job 28:20-28

(Read Job 28:20-28)

There is a two-fold wisdom; one hid in God, which is secret, and belongs not to us; the other made known by him, and revealed to man. One day's events, and one man's affairs, have such reference to, and so hang one upon another, that He only, to whom all is open, and who sees the whole at one view, can rightly judge of every part. But the knowledge of God's revealed will is within our reach, and will do us good. Let man look upon this as his wisdom, To fear the Lord, and to depart from evil. Let him learn that, and he is learned enough. Where is this wisdom to be found? The treasures of it are hid in Christ, revealed by the word, received by faith, through the Holy Ghost. It will not feed pride or vanity, or amuse our vain curiosity. It teaches and encourages sinners to fear the Lord, and to depart from evil, in the exercise of repentance and faith, without desiring to solve all difficulties about the events of this life.