Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
Rather, containing the protasis from the last clause of Job 22:23, If thou regard the glittering metal as dust-literally, lay it on the dust-to regard it of as little value as the dust on which it lies. The apodosis is at Job 22:25. Then shall the Almighty be, etc. God will take the place of the wealth in which thou didst formerly trust.
Gold - rather, 'precious' or 'glittering metal,' parallel to "(gold) of Ophir," in the second clause (Umbeit and Maurer).
Ophir - derived from a Hebrew word, dust-namely, gold dust. Heeren thinks it a general name for the rich countries of the South, on the African, Indian, and especially the Arabian coast (where the port Aphar was. El Ophir, too, a city of Oman, was formerly the center of Arabian commerce). It is curious, the natives of Malacca still call their mines Ophirs.
Stones of the brooks - if thou dost let the gold of Ophir remain in its native valley among the stones of the brooks; i:e., regard it as of as little worth as the stones, etc. The gold was washed down by mountain torrents, and lodged among the stones and sand of the valley.