1“There are silver mines and places where gold is refined.

2Iron is extracted from the earth and copper is smelted from its ore.

3Miners take lamps into the darkness underground and search for ore as far as they can go in the shadows and the gloom.

4They dig a mineshaft far from where people live or anyone ever goes. ¹⁷³They swing from ropes that hang in the pits.

5Bread comes from the earth, but underneath it looks as if it has been turned upside-down by fire.

6Here the rocks contain lapis lazuli ¹⁷⁴and the dust contains gold.

7No birds of prey can see these paths, no falcon's eye can perceive. ¹⁷⁵

8No wild beasts have passed that way; the lion has not walked there.

9Miners attack the hard rock; they overturn the roots of mountains.

10They tunnel through the rock, looking carefully for every precious stone.

11They dam the sources of the rivers, ¹⁷⁶and bring to light what is hidden.

12But where can wisdom be found? ¹⁷⁷Where is the place to gain understanding?

13Human beings do not know the way to wisdom; it is not found among the living.

14The deep waters say, ‘It's not here,’ and the sea says, ‘It's not here either.’

15It cannot be bought with gold; nor can it be purchased with silver.

16Its value cannot be measured, even with the gold of Ophir; ¹⁷⁸it is more precious than onyx or lapis lazuli.

17Gold or fine glass ¹⁷⁹cannot compare with wisdom; it cannot be exchanged for gold jewelry.

18Coral and crystal are not worth mentioning; the price of wisdom is far above rubies. ¹⁸⁰

19Topaz from Ethiopia can't compare with it; it cannot be bought with the purest gold.

20So where does wisdom come from? Where is the place to gain understanding?

21Wisdom is hidden from the sight of all living things, even the birds of the air cannot see it.

22Abaddon ¹⁸¹and Death say, ‘We've only heard a rumor of it.’

23Only God understands the path to wisdom; he knows where it is found.

24For he looks to the very end of the earth; he sees everything under heaven.

25He decided how strong the wind should blow, and regulated the waters.

26He set a limit for the rain and made a path for the lightning.

27Then he considered wisdom. He examined it, gave it his approval, and declared it good.

28He said to humankind, ‘To reverence the Lord is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”