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

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;

2 I ron is taken out of the earth. And copper is melted from the rock.

Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.

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.

putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.

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.

He 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 comes food. But below, it is turned up as fire.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.

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

putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.

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

He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.

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

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

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

But wisdom, where shall it 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.

Man knoweth not the value thereof; 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.’

The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.

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

Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.

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

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

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

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

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

Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above 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.

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

20 W here then does wisdom come from? 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. It is hidden from the birds of the sky.

For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.

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

Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.

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

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:

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, he seeth under the whole heaven.

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

In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,

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

In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:

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

Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;

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

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