|
[1] Surely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine;
[2] Iron from the dust is taken, And [from] the firm stone brass.
[3] An end hath he set to darkness, And to all perfection he is searching, A stone of darkness and death-shade.
[4] A stream hath broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, from man they wandered.
[5] The earth! from it cometh forth bread, And its under-part is turned like fire.
[6] A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, And it hath dust of gold.
[7] A path -- not known it hath a ravenous fowl, Nor scorched it hath an eye of the kite,
[8] Nor trodden it have the sons of pride, Not passed over it hath the fierce lion.
[9] Against the flint he sent forth his hand, He overturned from the root mountains.
[10] Among rocks, brooks he hath cleaved, And every precious thing hath his eye seen.
[11] From overflowing floods he hath bound, And the hidden thing bringeth out [to] light.
[12] And the wisdom -- whence is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
[13] Man hath not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
[14] The deep hath said, `It [is] not in me,' And the sea hath said, `It is not with me.'
[15] Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed -- its price.
[16] It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,
[17] Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
[18] Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.
[19] Not equal it doth the topaz of Cush, With pure gold it is not valued.
[20] And the wisdom -- whence doth it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
[21] It hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden.
[22] Destruction and death have said: `With our ears we have heard its fame.'
[23] God hath understood its way, And He hath known its place.
[24] For He to the ends of the earth doth look, Under the whole heavens He doth see,
[25] To make for the wind a weight, And the waters He meted out in measure.
[26] In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,
[27] Then He hath seen and declareth it, He hath prepared it, and also searched it out,
[28] And He saith to man: -- `Lo, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, And to turn from evil [is] understanding.'
|