9 People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock;
9 "Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots.
9 Miners hammer away at the rock, they uproot the mountains.
9 He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.
9 People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 28:9
Commentary on Job 28:1-11
(Read Job 28:1-11)
Job maintained that the dispensations of Providence were regulated by the highest wisdom. To confirm this, he showed of what a great deal of knowledge and wealth men may make themselves masters. The caverns of the earth may be discovered, but not the counsels of Heaven. Go to the miners, thou sluggard in religion, consider their ways, and be wise. Let their courage and diligence in seeking the wealth that perishes, shame us out of slothfulness and faint-heartedness in labouring for the true riches. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! How much easier, and safer! Yet gold is sought for, but grace neglected. Will the hopes of precious things out of the earth, so men call them, though really they are paltry and perishing, be such a spur to industry, and shall not the certain prospect of truly precious things in heaven be much more so?