Job 28:20-23

God Alone Has Wisdom

28:20 “But wisdom – where does it come from? ¹ 

Where is the place of understanding?

28:21 For ²  it has been hidden

from the eyes of every living creature,

and from the birds of the sky it has been concealed.

28:22 Destruction ³  and Death say,

‘With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.’ ⁴ 

28:23 God understands the way to it,

and he alone knows its place.

[28:20]  ¹ tn The refrain is repeated, except now the verb is תָּבוֹא (tavo’, “come”).

[28:21]  ² tn The vav on the verb is unexpressed in the LXX. It should not be overlooked, for it introduces a subordinate clause of condition (R. Gordis, Job, 310).

[28:22]  ³ tn Heb “Abaddon.”

[28:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “heard a report of it,” which means a report of its location, thus “where it can be found.”