^1. "There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

^2. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.

^3. Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.

^4. Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft, in places forgotten by the foot of man; far from men he dangles and sways.

^5. The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;

^6. sapphires [1] come from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.

^7. No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it.

^8. Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.

^9. Man's hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains.

^10. He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures.

^11. He searches [2] the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light.

^12. "But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?

^13. Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.

^14. The deep says, `It is not in me'; the sea says, `It is not with me.'

^15. It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver.

^16. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.

^17. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.

^18. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

^19. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.

^20. "Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?

^21. It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air.

^22. Destruction [3] and Death say, `Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'

^23. God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,

^24. for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

^25. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,

^26. when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,

^27. then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.

^28. And he said to man, `The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'"