Job 28:16-19

28:16 It cannot be measured out for purchase ¹  with the gold of Ophir,

with precious onyx ²  or sapphires.

28:17 Neither gold nor crystal ³  can be compared with it,

nor can a vase ⁴  of gold match its worth.

28:18 Of coral and jasper no mention will be made;

the price ⁵  of wisdom is more than pearls. ⁶ 

28:19 The topaz of Cush ⁷  cannot be compared with it;

it cannot be purchased with pure gold.

Proverbs 3:15

3:15 She is more precious than rubies,

and none of the things ⁸  you desire ⁹  can compare ¹⁰  with her. ¹¹ 

Isaiah 54:11-12

54:11 “O afflicted one, driven away, ¹²  and unconsoled!

Look, I am about to set your stones in antimony

and I lay your foundation with lapis-lazuli.

54:12 I will make your pinnacles out of gems, ¹³ 

your gates out of beryl, ¹⁴ 

and your outer wall ¹⁵  out of beautiful ¹⁶  stones.

[28:16]  ¹ tn The word actually means “weighed,” that is, lifted up on the scale and weighed, in order to purchase.

[28:16]  ² tn The exact identification of these stones is uncertain. Many recent English translations, however, have “onyx” and “sapphires.”

[28:17]  ³ tn The word is from זָכַךְ (zakhakh, “clear”). It describes a transparent substance, and so “glass” is an appropriate translation. In the ancient world it was precious and so expensive.

[28:17]  ⁴ tc The MT has “vase”; but the versions have a plural here, suggesting jewels of gold.

[28:18]  ⁵ tn The word מֶשֶׁךְ (meshekh) comes from a root meaning “to grasp; to seize; to hold,” and so the derived noun means “grasping; acquiring; taking possession,” and therefore, “price” (see the discussion in R. Gordis, Job, 309). Gray renders it “acquisition” (so A. Cohen, AJSL 40 [1923/24]: 175).

[28:18]  ⁶ tn In Lam 4:7 these are described as red, and so have been identified as rubies (so NIV) or corals.

[28:19]  ⁷ tn Or “Ethiopia.” In ancient times this referred to the region of the upper Nile, rather than modern Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia).

[3:15]  ⁸ tn Heb “all of your desires cannot compare with her.”

[3:15]  ⁹ tn Heb “your desires.” The 2nd person masculine singular suffix on the noun probably functions as subjective genitive.

[3:15]  ¹⁰ tn The imperfect tense verb יָסַד (yasad, “to establish be like; to resemble”) has a potential nuance here: “can be compared with.”

[3:15]  ¹¹ tn Heb “All of your desires do not compare with her.”

[54:11]  ¹² tn Or, more literally, “windblown, storm tossed.”

[54:12]  ¹³ tn Perhaps, “rubies” (so ASV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).

[54:12]  ¹⁴ tn On the meaning of אֶקְדָּח (’eqdakh), which occurs only here, see HALOT 82 s.v.

[54:12]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “border” (so ASV); NASB “your entire wall.”

[54:12]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “delightful”; KJV “pleasant.”