their backs, slaughtered your prophets who had admonished them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed atrocious blasphemies. Therefore you delivered them into the hands of their enemies who oppressed them. But in the midst of their oppression they cried out to you, and you, you heard them from the heavens and because of your magnificent maternal compassion you granted them deliverers who rescued them from their enemies’ grasp. But as soon as they experienced a respite, they again returned to doing evil in your sight, so you abandoned them into the clutches of their enemies who in turn crushed them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from the heavens and because of your maternal compassion delivered them time after time. You warned them so they would come back to your Law, but they became arrogant and would not obey your commandments. They sinned against your ordinances in whose observance is found life. They turned a stubborn back, stiffened their necks, and refused to listen. Nevertheless, you were patient with them for many years, admonishing them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the people of the country. But because of your magnificent maternal compassion you did not destroy them completely or abandon them, for you are a gracious and compassionate God.
Job 28:12–19 TNK
But whence can Wisdom be found?
And where is the abode of Understanding?
No human being knows the path to her,
and she cannot be found on earth where they live.
The abyss says, “She is not in me”;
and the sea notes, “She dwells not with me.”
She cannot be purchased with solid gold,
nor can her price be weighed
in sterling silver,
nor can she be valued with the fine gold of Ophir,
precious agate or sapphire.
Neither gold nor crystal compares
with her,
nor can she be exchanged for a dress
of golden filigree,
not to mention coral and jasper;
the price of Wisdom
is beyond rosy pearls.
The topaz of Cush
cannot compare with her,
nor can she be valued against the purest refined gold.
Job 28:20–27 TNK
Where does Wisdom come from?
Where is the dwelling of Understanding?
She is hidden from the eyes of every living creature,
even concealed from the birds
of heaven.
Destruction and Death declare,
“Our ears have only heard rumors
about her.”
God alone understands her path
and knows where her dwelling place is.
For he surveys the ends of the earth,
and observes everything beneath
the heavens.
When he established the weight
of the wind,
and gauged the measure of the waters,
when he imposed rules on the rain,
and mapped a trek for thunderstorms,
then he beheld Wisdom
and assessed her,
looked her through and through,
and appraised her.
Job 32:6–9 TNK
Elihu, son of Barachel the Buzite, responded and said:
“I am still young and you are aged,
thus I was timid and hesitant
to impart to you my knowledge.
I thought, Days of experience
should speak
and many years should teach wisdom.
But the Spirit, she who dwells
in humanity,
even the Breath of Shaddai, she grants understanding.
Many days do not guarantee wisdom,
nor do the aged necessarily understand correctly.”
Job 33:1–6 TNK
But now, Job, listen to my speech;
pay attention to all my words.
Behold, I open my mouth;
my words are on the tip of my tongue.
I utter words from an upright heart,
and my lips sincerely profess knowledge.
The Spirit of God, she has made me;
the Breath of Shaddai—
the Breasted One,
she gives me life.
Answer me, if you can;
prepare yourself and refute me.
Behold, I am just like you before God;
I, too, was molded from a piece of clay.
Job 38:1–11 TNK
Then Yahweh answered Job from out of the tempest.
“Who is this that obscures divine counsel with ignorant mutterings?
Brace yourself and muster
up your strength.
Now I will pose the questions
and you will answer me.
Where were you when I set
the earth’s foundations?
Pray, tell me, since you possess
such understanding!
Who
