1"We all know how silver seams the rocks, we've seen the stuff from which gold is refined,
2We're aware of how iron is dug out of the ground and copper is smelted from rock.
3Miners penetrate the earth's darkness, searching the roots of the mountains for ore, digging away in the suffocating darkness.
4Far from civilization, far from the traffic, they cut a shaft, and are lowered into it by ropes.
5Earth's surface is a field for grain, but its depths are a forge
6Firing sapphires from stones and chiseling gold from rocks.
7Vultures are blind to its riches, hawks never lay eyes on it.
8Wild animals are oblivious to it, lions don't know it's there.
9Miners hammer away at the rock, they uproot the mountains.
10They tunnel through the rock and find all kinds of beautiful gems.
11They discover the origins of rivers, and bring earth's secrets to light.
12"But where, oh where, will they find Wisdom? Where does Insight hide?
13Mortals don't have a clue, haven't the slightest idea where to look.
14Earth's depths say, 'It's not here'; ocean deeps echo, 'Never heard of it.'
15It can't be bought with the finest gold; no amount of silver can get it.
16Even famous Ophir gold can't buy it, not even diamonds and sapphires.
17Neither gold nor emeralds are comparable; extravagant jewelry can't touch it.
18Pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets—why bother? None of this is even a down payment on Wisdom!
19Pile gold and African diamonds as high as you will, they can't hold a candle to Wisdom.
20"So where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live?
21It can't be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly.
22If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, 'We've only heard rumors of it.'
23"God alone knows the way to Wisdom, he knows the exact place to find it.
24He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven.
25After he commanded the winds to blow and measured out the waters,
26Arranged for the rain and set off explosions of thunder and lightning,
27He focused on Wisdom, made sure it was all set and tested and ready.
28Then he addressed the human race: 'Here it is! Fear-of-the-Lord—that's Wisdom, and Insight means shunning evil.' "