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