1 S urely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold where they refine it.

2 I ron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the stone ore.

3 M an sets an end to darkness, and he searches out the farthest bounds for the ore buried in gloom and deep darkness.

4 M en break open shafts away from where people sojourn, in places forgotten by foot; and, hanging afar from men, they swing or flit to and fro.

5 A s for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath there is blasting, turning it up as by fire.

6 I ts stones are the bed of sapphires; it holds dust of gold.

7 T hat path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it.

8 T he proud beasts have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed over it.

9 M an puts forth his hand upon the flinty rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots.

10 H e cuts out channels and passages among the rocks; and his eye sees every precious thing.

11 b inds the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings forth to light.

12 B ut where shall Wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?

13 M an knows not the price of it; neither is it found in the land of the living.

14 T he deep says, is not in me; and the sea says, It is not with me.

15 I t cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price of it.

16 I t cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in the precious onyx or beryl, or the sapphire.

17 G old and glass cannot equal, nor can it be exchanged for jewels or vessels of fine gold.

18 N o mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; for the possession of Wisdom is even above rubies or pearls.

19 T he topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.

20 F rom where then does Wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

21 I t is hidden from the eyes of all living, and knowledge of it is withheld from the birds of the heavens.

22 A baddon (the place of destruction) and Death say, We have heard the report of it with our ears.

23 G od understands the way and He knows the place of it.

24 F or He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

25 W hen He gave to the wind weight or pressure and allotted the waters by measure,

26 W hen He made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,

27 T hen He saw and declared it; He established it, yes, and searched it out.

28 B ut to man He said, Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—that is Wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.