1 S urely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;

2 I ron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.

3 p utteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.

4 H e openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.

5 A s for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;

6 T he stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.

7 I t is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;

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

9 p utteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.

10 H e cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.

11 H e bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.

12 B ut wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?

13 M an knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.

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

15 C hoice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.

16 I t is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.

17 G old and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.

18 C orals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.

19 T he topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.

20 W hence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21 F or it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.

22 D estruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.

23 G od understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:

24 F or he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.

25 I n making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,

26 I n appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:

27 T hen did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;

28 A nd unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.