Man does not know the way to it: as the Revised Standard Version note shows, the way to it is based on the Septuagint; the Hebrew has “its price.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends the Hebrew, although only with a “C” rating, and Good News Translation, which has transposed the two lines of verse 13, follows this with “No one knows its true value.” The value of wisdom occurs again in verses 15-19. Translators are encouraged to follow Good News Translation. The Good News Translation form may also be expressed “No one knows how great its value is” or “No one knows how valuable it is.”

And it is not found in the land of the living: in Good News Translation this is the first line of the verse, and it fits better there in English, for stylistic reasons. Land of the living renders the Hebrew literally. The expression is found in Psalm 52.5; Isaiah 38.11; 53.8, and is the opposite of Sheol, which is the land of the dead. New Jerusalem Bible says “She is not to be found on earth where they live,” in which “they” refers to “no human being” used in line a. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “and does not find it in this world.” The line may also be expressed “it (wisdom) cannot be found on this earth” or “no one will find it in this world.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .