Mankind’s great industry in penetrating the earth for precious stones is now compared to his inability to get to the source of wisdom. Verse 12 is the key to the understanding of the whole chapter. The contrast between the success of the miners in the previous verse and the search for wisdom is marked by But in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. People know where to find silver, gold, and precious stones, but they do not know where to find wisdom. Between verse 12 and the next refrain in verse 20 there is a series of negative answers to the question asked here.

But where shall wisdom be found?: this verse is repeated as a question with a few small changes in verse 20 and as a response in verse 28. The answer to the question comes in the final verse of the chapter, where wisdom is defined as “the fear of the LORD” and understanding as “to depart from evil.”

The introduction of wisdom as new information may require in some languages an introductory statement; for example, “But let us talk also of wisdom,” “But what about finding wisdom?” or “But how does a person become wise?”

And where is the place of understanding?: here understanding is used in parallel with wisdom, just as in Proverbs 1.2; 4.5; 7.9; 9.10; 16.16. Dhorme says wisdom expresses what is handed down by tradition, while understanding is acquired by discernment, insight, and judgment. However, in these verses the two are to be taken as two ways of referring to a single virtue.

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 .