1“Surely there is a vein for silver, and a place where they refine gold. 2Iron is taken out of the earth, and bronze (copper) is smelted out of the stone (ore). 3Men disperse the darkness (with lamps), searching for ore in the deepest dark places. 4They break open mine shafts and descend, swinging on ropes, far away from habitations; out of view of men who tread on the surface. 5From the earth comes food; but beneath it is transformed as if were fire. 6The stones of it are the source of sapphires; and it has dust of gold. 7These (underground) paths no bird of prey knows, and no falcon's eye has seen: 8The lion's whelps have not tread upon it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. 9He puts forth His hand upon the rock; He overturns the mountains by the roots. 10He cuts out channels among the rocks; and His eye seeks for every precious thing. 11He diverts the streams from their flowing; to reveal and bring to light the hidden thing that He searches for.

12“But where shall man find wisdom? And where is the place of understanding? 13No man can name its price; nor is it found in the land of the living. 14The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; and the sea says, ‘It is not with me’. 15Wisdom cannot be purchased with gold, nor shall silver be weighed out for its price. 16It is worth more than the gold of Ophir, precious onyx, or the sapphire. 17The gold and the crystal cannot compare with it; nor can jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it. 18No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls; for the price of wisdom is above rubies. 19The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, nor shall it be valued with pure gold.

20“Where then does wisdom come from? And where can you get understanding? 21It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and even from the birds of the air. 22Destruction and death say, ‘We have heard rumors of it’. 23God alone knows the way to wisdom. 24For He views the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens. 25He establishes the force of the winds; and measures the weight of the waters. 26When He decreed a limit for the rain, and a way for the lightning (thunderbolt), 27Then He established wisdom, yes, He knows where wisdom is; and declares it to all who will listen.

28“And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’”