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