1 “ Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where gold is refined.

“Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where gold is refined.

2 I ron is taken from the earth, And copper is smelted from ore.

Iron is taken from the earth, And copper is smelted from ore.

3 M an puts an end to darkness, And searches every recess For ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.

Man puts an end to darkness, And searches every recess For ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.

4 H e breaks open a shaft away from people; In places forgotten by feet They hang far away from men; They swing to and fro.

He breaks open a shaft away from people; In places forgotten by feet They hang far away from men; They swing to and fro.

5 A s for the earth, from it comes bread, But underneath it is turned up as by fire;

As for the earth, from it comes bread, But underneath it is turned up as by fire;

6 I ts stones are the source of sapphires, And it contains gold dust.

Its stones are the source of sapphires, And it contains gold dust.

7 T hat path no bird knows, Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.

That path no bird knows, Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.

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

The proud lions have not trodden it, Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.

9 H e puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.

He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.

10 H e cuts out channels in the rocks, And his eye sees every precious thing.

He cuts out channels in the rocks, And his eye sees every precious thing.

11 H e dams up the streams from trickling; What is hidden he brings forth to light.

He dams up the streams from trickling; What is hidden he brings forth to light.

12 “ But where can 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 does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living.

Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living.

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

The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

15 I t cannot be purchased for gold, Nor can silver be weighed for its price.

It cannot be purchased for gold, Nor can silver be weighed for its price.

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

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

17 N either gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.

Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.

18 N o mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies.

No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies.

19 T he topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.

The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.

20 “ From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

“From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

21 I t is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air.

It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air.

22 D estruction and Death say, ‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’

Destruction and Death say, ‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’

23 G od understands its way, And He knows its place.

God understands its way, And He knows its place.

24 F or He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens,

For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens,

25 T o establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure.

To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure.

26 W hen He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt,

When He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt,

27 T hen He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.

Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.

28 A nd to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’”