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

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.

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

Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.

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

He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

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.

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.

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

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.

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

The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.

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

There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:

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

the lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.

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

He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.

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

He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth 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.

He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.

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

But 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.

Man knoweth not the price thereof; 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.

The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

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

It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

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

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

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

The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels 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.

No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

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

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

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

Whence then cometh wisdom? 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.

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

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

Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

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

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

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

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

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

to make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.

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

When 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.

then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, 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.

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.