1For truly there is a source for the silver, and a place for the gold which men refine.

2Iron is taken out of the dust, and the stone is melted into copper.

3An end doth he set to darkness, and the very utmost limit doth he search out, the stones of darkness, and of the shadow of death.

4He breaketh a channel far from the inhabited place; those of unsteady foot, the poorest of men move [there about].

5The earth, out of which cometh forth bread, is under its surface turned up as it were with fire.

6Her stones are the place whence the sapphire cometh; and golden dust is also there;

7[On the] path which no bird of prey knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not surveyed;

8[Which] ravenous beasts have never trodden, over which the lion hath never passed.

9To the flinty rock he stretcheth forth his hand; he overturneth the mountains from the root.

10Amid rocks he heweth out canals: and every precious thing doth his eye behold.

11The various droppings of water he uniteth into streams, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.

12But wisdom—where shall she he found? and where is the place of understanding?

13Man knoweth not her value: and she is not to be found in the land of the living.

14The deep saith, Not in me is she: and the sea saith, She is not with me.

15No fine gold can be given in lieu of her, and silver cannot be weighed out as her price.

16She cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

17She cannot be estimated after gold and glass; and not in exchange for her [can] vessels of refined gold [be taken.]

18Coral and crystal will not be thought of; and the value of wisdom is above pearls.

19She cannot be estimated after the topaz of Ethiopia, nor can she be valued with pure gold.

20But wisdom—whence cometh she? and where is the place of understanding?

21Yea, she is hidden from the eyes of all living, and from the fowls of the heavens is she concealed.

22Perdition and death say, With our ears have we heard a report of her.

23God [alone] understandeth her way, and he knoweth her place;

24For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [whatever is] under the whole heaven doth he see.

25When he imparted weight unto the wind; and [when] the waters he established by measure;

26When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the lightning of [his] thunders;

27Then did he see her, and make her known; he established her, and also searched her out.

28And he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to eschew evil is understanding.