Verse 1. Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.
Verse 2. Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is turned into brass.
Verse 3. He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and the shadow of death.
Verse 4. The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.
Verse 5. The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with fire.
Verse 6. The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and the clods of it are gold.
Verse 7. The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the vulture beheld it.
Verse 8. The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it.
Verse 9. He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots.
Verse 10. In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.
Verse 11. The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he hath brought forth to light.
Verse 12. But where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
Verse 13. Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights.
Verse 14. The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea saith: It is not with me.
Verse 15. The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
Verse 16. It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.
Verse 17. Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.
Verse 18. High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.
Verse 19. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.
Verse 20. Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
Verse 21. It is hid from the eyes of all living. and the fowls of the air know it not.
Verse 22. Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the fame thereof.
Verse 23. God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.
Verse 24. For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.
Verse 25. Who made a weight for the winds and weighed the waters by measure.
Verse 26. When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding storms.
Verse 27. Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched it.
Verse 28. And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.