1 “ 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 melted from the rock.

3 M an 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 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 food. But below, it is turned up as fire.

6 S apphires come from its rocks and its dust has gold.

7 N o bird who eats meat knows that path. The falcon’s eye has not seen it.

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

9 M an puts his hand on the hard rock. He turns the mountains over at its base.

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

11 H e stops rivers from flowing. And he brings to light what is hidden.

12 “ But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?

13 M an does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.

14 T he deep waters say, ‘It is not in me.’ The sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

15 P ure gold cannot be traded for it and it cannot be bought with silver.

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

17 G old or glass cannot be compared to it in worth and it cannot be traded for objects of fine gold.

18 T here 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 be compared to it in worth and it cannot be compared with the worth of pure gold.

20 W here then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding?

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

22 T he Place That Destroys and Death say, ‘We have only heard about it with our ears.’

23 “ 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.

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

26 H e decided how much rain would fall, and the path for the lightning.

27 T hen He saw wisdom and made it known. He made it last, and found out all about it.

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