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[1]Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;
[2]Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.
[3][Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.
[4]He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.
[5]As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;
[6]The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.
[7]It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;
[8]The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.
[9][Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.
[10]He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.
[11]He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
[12]But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?
[13]Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.
[14]The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.
[15]Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.
[16]It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.
[17]Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.
[18]Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.
[19]The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.
[20]Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
[21]For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.
[22]Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.
[23]God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:
[24]For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.
[25]In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,
[26]In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:
[27]Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;
[28]And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
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