[1] "There is a place where silver is mined and a place where gold is refined. [2] Iron is taken from the ground, and rocks are melted for their copper. [3] Humans bring an end to darkness there and search to the limit of the gloomy, pitch-black rock. [4] They open up a mineshaft far from civilization, where no one has set foot. In this shaft men dangle and swing back and forth. [5] "Above the ground food grows, but beneath it the food decays as if it were burned by fire. [6] That place's stones are sapphire. Its dust contains gold. [7] No bird of prey knows the way to it. No hawk's eye has ever seen it. [8] No proud beast has ever walked on it. No ferocious lion has ever passed over it. [9] "Humans exert their power on the flinty rocks and overturn mountains at their base. [10] They cut out mineshafts in the rocks. Their eyes see every precious thing. [11] They explore the sources of rivers so that they bring hidden treasures to light. [12] "Where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding live? [13] No mortal knows where it is. It cannot be found in this world of the living. [14] The deep ocean says, 'It isn't in me.' The sea says, 'It isn't with me.' [15] You cannot obtain it with solid gold or buy it for any amount of silver. [16] It can't be bought with the gold from Ophir or with precious onyx or sapphire. [17] Neither gold nor glass can equal its value. Nor can gold ornaments, jewels, or crystal [18] be exchanged for it. Wisdom is more valuable than gems. [19] Topaz from Ethiopia cannot equal its value. It cannot be bought for any amount of pure gold. [20] "Where does wisdom come from? Where does understanding live? [21] It is hidden from the eyes of every living being, hidden even from the birds in the air. [22] Decay and Death say, 'We've heard a rumor about it.' [23] "God understands the way to it. He knows where it lives [24] because he can see to the ends of the earth and observe everything under heaven. [25] When he gave the wind its force and measured the water in the sea, [26] when he made rules for the rain and set paths for the thunderstorms, [27] then he saw it and announced it. He confirmed it and examined it. [28] So he told humans, 'The fear of the Lord is wisdom! To stay away from evil is understanding.'"
