1 銀子有礦、煉金有方。
"There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. |
2 鐵從地裡挖出、銅從石中鎔化。
Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. |
3 人為黑暗定界限、查究幽暗陰翳的石頭、直到極處.
Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness. |
4 在無人居住之處刨開礦穴、過路的人也想不到他們.又與人遠離、懸在空中搖來搖去。
Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft, in places forgotten by the foot of man; far from men he dangles and sways. |
5 至於地、能出糧食.地內好像被火翻起來。
The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire; |
6 地中的石頭有藍寶石、並有金沙。
sapphires come from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold. |
7 礦中的路鷙鳥不得知道、鷹眼也未見過.
No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it. |
8 狂傲的野獸未曾行過.猛烈的獅子也未曾經過。
Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there. |
9 人伸手鑿開堅石、傾倒山根。
Man's hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains. |
10 在磐石中鑿出水道.親眼看見各樣寶物。
He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures. |
11 他封閉水不得滴流.使隱藏的物顯露出來。
He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light. |
12 然而智慧有何處可尋.聰明之處在那裡呢。
"But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? |
13 智慧的價值無人能知、在活人之地也無處可尋。
Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. |
14 深淵說、不在我內.滄海說、不在我中。
The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.' |
15 智慧非用黃金可得、也不能平白銀為他的價值。
It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. |
16 俄斐金、和貴重的紅瑪瑙、並藍寶石、不足與較量。
It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. |
17 黃金、和玻璃、不足與比較、精金的器皿、不足與兌換。
Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. |
18 珊瑚、水晶、都不足論、智慧的價值勝過珍珠。〔或作紅寶石〕
Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. |
19 古實的紅璧璽、不足與比較。精金、也不足與較量。
The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. |
20 智慧從何處來呢.聰明之處在那裡呢。
"Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? |
21 是向一切有生命的眼目隱藏、向空中的飛鳥掩蔽。
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. |
22 滅沒和死亡說、我們風聞其名。
Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.' |
23 神明白智慧的道路、曉得智慧的所在。
God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, |
24 因他鑒察直到地極、遍觀普天之下.
for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. |
25 要為風定輕重.又度量諸水。
When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, |
26 他為雨露定命令、為雷電定道路。
when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, |
27 那時他看見智慧、而且述說.他堅定、並且查究。
then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. |
28 他對人說、敬畏主就是智慧、遠離惡便是聰明。
And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'" |