1 "There is indeed a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine.
2 Iron is drawn out of the earth, and copper is poured from the ore.
3 Man sets an end to darkness, and to the furthest bound he searches out the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
4 He cuts a shaft away from where men dwell, in places forgotten by the foot; far from men they dangle and swing.
5 The earth, from which bread comes forth, is overturned beneath as if by fire.
6 Its rocks are where sapphires are found, and it has dust of gold.
7 That path no bird of prey knows, and the eye of the falcon has not spotted it.
8 Proud beasts have not set foot on it, and the lion has not prowled along it.
9 Man lays his hand on the flint rock and overturns the mountains from their roots.
10 He carves out tunnels through the rock, and his eye beholds every treasure.
11 He dams the sources of the rivers, and what was hidden he brings into the light.
12 But wisdom, where is it to be found? Where is the place where understanding dwells?
13 Man does not know what it is worth, and it is not to be had in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not beside me.'
15 It cannot be gotten for solid gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver.
16 It cannot be set in the balance with the gold of Ophir, with costly onyx or with sapphire.
17 Neither gold nor glass can equal it, nor can it be exchanged for vessels of pure gold.
18 Coral and crystal do not deserve a mention; the worth of wisdom is beyond pearls.
19 Topaz from Cush cannot be likened to it; it cannot be weighed against pure gold.
20 So where does wisdom come from? Where is the place where understanding dwells?
21 It is concealed from the eyes of every living thing and hidden from the birds of the heavens.
22 Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a report of it with our ears.'
23 It is God who discerns the way to it, and he it is who knows its place.
24 For he gazes to the ends of the earth and beholds all that is beneath the heavens.
25 When he fixed the weight of the wind and apportioned the waters by measure,
26 when he set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunder's flash,
27 then he saw it and recounted it; he set it in place and probed it through.
28 And to man he said, 'See, the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and turning away from evil is understanding.'