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[1] For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined.
[2] For iron comes out of the earth, and brass is hewn out like stone.
[3] He has set a bound to darkness, and he searches out every limit: a stone is darkness, and the shadow of death.
[4] There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust: so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from among men.
[5] As for the earth, out of it shall come bread: under it has been turned up as it were fire.
[6] Her stones are the place of the sapphire: and her dust supplies man with gold.
[7] There is a path, the fowl has not known it, neither has the eye of the vulture seen it:
[8] neither have the sons of the proud trodden it, a lion has not passed upon it.
[9] He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp rock, and turned up mountains by the roots:
[10] and he has interrupted the whirlpools of rivers, and mine eye has seen every precious thing.
[11] And he has laid bare the depths of rivers, and has brought his power to light.
[12] But whence has wisdom been discovered? and what is the place of knowledge?
[13] A mortal has not known its way, neither indeed has it been discovered among men.
[14] The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me.
[15] One shall not give fine gold instead of it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
[16] Neither shall it be compared with gold of Sophir, with the precious onyx and sapphire.
[17] Gold and crystal shall not be equalled to it, neither shall vessels of gold be its exchange.
[18] Coral and fine pearl shall not be mentioned: but do thou esteem wisdom above the most precious things.
[19] The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equalled to it; it shall not be compared with pure gold.
[20] Whence then is wisdom found? and of what kind is the place of understanding?
[21] It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky.
[22] Destruction and Death said, We have heard the report of it.
[23] God has well ordered the way of it, and he knows the place of it.
[24] For he surveys the whole earth under heaven, knowing the things in the earth:
[25] all that he has made; the weight of the winds, the measures of the water.
[26] When he made them, thus he saw and numbered them, and made a way for the pealing of the thunder.
[27] Then he saw it, and declared it: he prepared it and traced it out.
[28] And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.
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