Priceless Wisdom is Sourced in God

1“Surely there are mines for silver

and places where gold is refined.

2Iron is taken from the ground;a

and copper is smelted from ore.

3Mankind limits the darkness

as they search the deepest depths

for oreb in unfathomable darkness.

4He sinks his shaft far from human habitations,

in a placec forgotten by explorers;

they hang on harnesses

as they swing back and forth.

5“While the ground produces food,

underneath it is torn up and burning hot,d

6where stones are sapphire

and gold dust can be found,

7a place where birds of prey never fly,

and the eyes of the falcon have never seen.

8The proud beasts haven’t walked there;

lions have never passed over it.

9“Using a flint, he thrusts his hand,

overturning mountains by the roots.

10He cuts a channel through the rocks,

while his eyes search for anything of value.

11He dams up flowing rivers,

bringing hidden things to light.”

Wisdom is of Greater Value than Precious Stones

12“Where can wisdom be found?

Where is understanding’s home?

13Mankind doesn’t appreciate their value;

and you won’t find it anywhere on earth.e

14The deepest ocean says, ‘It’s not within me.’

and the sea says, ‘You’ll never find it with me.’

15You can’t buy it with gold,

and its value cannot be calculated in silver.

16It cannot be compared to gold from Ophir,f

with precious onyx, or with sapphire.

17It cannot be compared to gold and fine glassg crystal,

nor can it be exchanged for gold-plated weaponry.h

18Don’t even bother to mention coral and crystal—

wisdom is more valuable than a bag of rubies.i

19It can neither be compared with the topaz of Ethiopia

nor valued in comparison to pure gold.”

Wisdom is from God

20“From where, then, does wisdom originate?

Where does understanding live?j

21It has been concealed from the sight of every living creature

and hidden even from the birds in the skies.

22Abaddonk and death said,

‘We did hear a rumor about it.’

23God understands how to get there;

he knows where they live.l

24For he looks as far as the ends of the earth

and sees everything under the sky.m

25“He imparted weight to the wind;

he regulated water by his measurement.

26He set in place ordinances for the rain;

and determined the pathway for thunder that accompanies lightning.n

27Then he looked at wisdom,

and fixed it in place;

he established it,

and also examined it.

28He has commanded mankind:

‘To fear the Lord—that is wisdom;

to move away from evil—that is understanding.’”