And he said to mankind, 'The fear of the Lord -- that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined.

"But wisdom -- where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding?

When he made the force of the wind and measured the waters with a gauge.

Iron is taken from the ground, and rock is poured out as copper.

For he looks to the ends of the earth and observes everything under the heavens.

Of coral and jasper no mention will be made; the price of wisdom is more than pearls.

On the flinty rock man has set to work with his hand; he has overturned mountains at their bases.

Destruction and Death say, 'With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.'

"But wisdom -- where does it come from? Where is the place of understanding?

He has cut out channels through the rocks; his eyes have spotted every precious thing.

The topaz of Cush cannot be compared with it; it cannot be purchased with pure gold.

Fine gold cannot be given in exchange for it, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

It cannot be measured out for purchase with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.

When he imposed a limit for the rain, and a path for the thunderstorm,

a hidden path no bird of prey knows -- no falcon's eye has spotted it.

Neither gold nor crystal can be compared with it, nor can a vase of gold match its worth.

Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for the ore in the deepest darkness.

God understands the way to it, and he alone knows its place.

Proud beasts have not set foot on it, and no lion has passed along it.

a place whose stones are sapphires and which contains dust of gold;

He has searched the sources of the rivers and what was hidden he has brought into the light.

Mankind does not know its place; it cannot be found in the land of the living.

The earth, from which food comes, is overturned below as though by fire;

For it has been hidden from the eyes of every living creature, and from the birds of the sky it has been concealed.

Far from where people live he sinks a shaft, in places travelers have long forgotten, far from other people he dangles and sways.

then he looked at wisdom and assessed its value; he established it and examined it closely.

The deep says, 'It is not with me.' And the sea says, 'It is not with me.'