King James Bible
"Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;"
Job describes those in such profound anguish that they desperately desire death as relief, yet it eludes them. This reflects Job's own state after losing his children, wealth, and health—highlighting how extreme suffering can make even death seem preferable to continued existence. The metaphor intensifies by comparing the pursuit of death to treasure hunting, where people eagerly excavate for valuable hidden riches. This vivid image emphasizes how suffering has inverted normal human desires—what should be avoided is now sought more zealously than wealth itself.