1
“Surely there is a source for silver and a place for gold that they refine.
2
Iron is taken from dust, and stone is poured into bronze.
3
He sets an end to darkness and searches to every completion stones of thick darkness and death-shadow.
4
He breaks open a shaft far from one dwelling, forgotten by the foot; they hang far from Adam and sway.
5
From the earth bread comes forth, yet beneath it is overturned as by fire.
6
Its stones are the place of sapphire, and dust of gold is in it.
7
A path no bird of prey knows, and the eye of the falcon has not seen it.
8
The sons of pride have not trodden it; the fierce lion has not crossed over it.
9
He sends his hand against flint; he overturns mountains from their roots.
10
He cuts channels through rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
11
He binds rivers from weeping, and brings hidden things to light.
12
But wisdom—from where is it found? And where is the place of understanding?
13
Adam does not know its value, and it is not found in the land of the living.
14
The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15
Refined gold cannot be given for it, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
16
It cannot be weighed against gold of Ophir, precious onyx, or sapphire.
17
Gold and glass cannot be compared with it, nor is its exchange a vessel of refined gold.
18
Coral and crystal are not remembered; the acquisition of wisdom is above pearls.
19
The topaz of Kush cannot be compared with it; it cannot be weighed against pure gold.
20
But wisdom—from where does it come? And where is the place of understanding?
21
It is concealed from the eyes of every living one and hidden from the flying creatures of the heavens.
22
Abaddon and Death say, ‘With our ears we heard its report.’
23
Elohim understands its Way, and He knows its place.
24
For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees beneath all the heavens,
25
making a weight for the wind and measuring the waters by measure.
26
When He made a statute for the rain and a Way for the lightning of thunder,
27
then He saw it and recounted it; He established it and also searched it.
28
And He said to Adam, ‘See, the fear of Adonai—that is wisdom; and turning from evil is understanding.’”