2Iron is taken from the dust, "" And bronze [from] the firm stone.

3He has set an end to darkness, "" And he is searching to all perfection, "" A stone of darkness and death-shade.

4A stream has broken out from a sojourner, "" Those forgotten of the foot, "" They were low, they wandered from man.

5The earth! Bread comes forth from it, "" And its under-part is turned like fire.

6A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, "" And it has dust of gold.

7A path—a ravenous bird has not known it, "" Nor has an eye of the falcon scorched it,

8Nor have the sons of pride trodden it, "" The fierce lion has not passed over it.

9He sent forth his hand against the flint, "" He overturned mountains from the root.

10Among rocks, he has cleaved brooks, "" And his eye has seen every precious thing.

11He has bound overflowing rivers, "" And the hidden thing brings out [to] light.

12And the wisdom—from where is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?

13Man has not known its arrangement, "" Nor is it found in the land of the living.

14The deep has said, It [is] not in me, "" And the sea has said, It is not with me.

15Gold is not given for it, "" Nor is silver weighed—its price.

16It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, "" With precious onyx and sapphire,

17Gold and crystal do not equal it, "" Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.

18Corals and pearl are not remembered, "" The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.

19The topaz of Cush does not equal it, "" It is not valued with pure gold.

20And the wisdom—from where does it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?

21It has been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the bird of the heavens "" It has been hidden.

22Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard its fame.

23God has understood its way, "" And He has known its place.

24For He looks to the ends of the earth, "" He sees under the whole heavens,

25To make a weight for the wind, "" And He meted out the waters in measure.

26In His making for the rain a limit, "" And a way for the brightness of the voices,

27Then He has seen and declares it, "" He has prepared it, and also searched it out,

28And He says to man: Behold, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, "" And to turn from evil [is] understanding.”