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

“For sure there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is made pure.

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 copper is melted from the rock.

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

Man looks into the deepest darkness. And he goes out to the farthest part of the earth to look for rocks in the dark places.

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.

Men break open deep holes far from where people live, forgotten by travelers. In the holes they hang and move from side to side far 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 comes food. But below, it is turned up as fire.

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

Sapphires come from its rocks and its dust has gold.

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

No bird who eats meat knows that path. 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.

The proud animals have not stepped on it. The strong lion has not passed over it.

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

Man puts his hand on the hard rock. He turns the mountains over at its base.

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

He makes a path through the rocks, and his eyes see everything of much worth.

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

He stops rivers from flowing. And he brings to light what is hidden.

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

“But where can 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 does not know its worth, and it is not 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 deep waters say, ‘It is not in me.’ 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.

Pure gold cannot be traded for it and it cannot be bought with silver.

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

It cannot be compared in worth to the gold of Ophir, onyx of much worth, or sapphire.

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

Gold or glass cannot be compared to it in worth and it cannot be traded for objects 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.

There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal because wisdom cannot be paid for with rubies.

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

The topaz of Ethiopia cannot be compared to it in worth and it cannot be compared with the worth of pure gold.

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

Where then does wisdom come from? 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.

It is hidden from the eyes of all living. It is hidden from the birds of the sky.

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

The Place That Destroys and Death say, ‘We have only heard about it with our ears.’

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

“God understands the way to wisdom, and He knows its place.

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

For 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,

He gave weight to the wind. He decided how much water would be in the sea.

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

He decided how much rain would fall, and the path for the lightning.

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

Then He saw wisdom and made it known. He made it last, and found out all about it.

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 He said to man, ‘See, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. And to turn away from sin is understanding.’”