1 S urely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine;

2 I ron from the dust is taken, And the firm stone brass.

3 A n end hath he set to darkness, And to all perfection he is searching, A stone of darkness and death-shade.

4 A stream hath broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, from man they wandered.

5 T he earth! from it cometh forth bread, And its under-part is turned like fire.

6 A place of the sapphire its stones, And it hath dust of gold.

7 A path -- not known it hath a ravenous fowl, Nor scorched it hath an eye of the kite,

8 N or trodden it have the sons of pride, Not passed over it hath the fierce lion.

9 A gainst the flint he sent forth his hand, He overturned from the root mountains.

10 A mong rocks, brooks he hath cleaved, And every precious thing hath his eye seen.

11 F rom overflowing floods he hath bound, And the hidden thing bringeth out light.

12 A nd the wisdom -- whence is it found? And where this, the place of understanding?

13 M an hath not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.

14 T he deep hath said, `It not in me,' And the sea hath said, `It is not with me.'

15 G old is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed -- its price.

16 I t is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,

17 N ot equal it do gold and crystal, Nor its exchange a vessel of fine gold.

18 C orals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom above rubies.

19 N ot equal it doth the topaz of Cush, With pure gold it is not valued.

20 A nd the wisdom -- whence doth it come? And where this, the place of understanding?

21 I t hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden.

22 D estruction and death have said: `With our ears we have heard its fame.'

23 G od hath understood its way, And He hath known its place.

24 F or He to the ends of the earth doth look, Under the whole heavens He doth see,

25 T o make for the wind a weight, And the waters He meted out in measure.

26 I n His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,

27 T hen He hath seen and declareth it, He hath prepared it, and also searched it out,

28 A nd He saith to man: -- `Lo, fear of the Lord, that wisdom, And to turn from evil understanding.'