Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found
1 There is a mine for silver
and a place where gold is refined.
1 There is a mine for silver
and a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the earth,
and copper is smelted from ore.
and copper is smelted from ore.
3 Mortals put an end to the darkness;
they search out the farthest recesses
for ore in the blackest darkness.
they search out the farthest recesses
for ore in the blackest darkness.
4 Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,
in places untouched by human feet;
far from other people they dangle and sway.
in places untouched by human feet;
far from other people they dangle and sway.
5 The earth, from which food comes,
is transformed below as by fire;
is transformed below as by fire;
6 lapis lazuli comes from its rocks,
and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path,
no falcon’s eye has seen it.
no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8 Proud beasts do not set foot on it,
and no lion prowls there.
and no lion prowls there.
9 People assault the flinty rock with their hands
and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
10 They tunnel through the rock;
their eyes see all its treasures.
their eyes see all its treasures.
11 They searcha the sources of the rivers
and bring hidden things to light.
and bring hidden things to light.
12 But where can wisdom be found?
Where does understanding dwell?
Where does understanding dwell?
13 No mortal comprehends its worth;
it cannot be found in the land of the living.
it cannot be found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, “It is not in me”;
the sea says, “It is not with me.”
the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,
with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,
nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
it cannot be bought with pure gold.
it cannot be bought with pure gold.
20 Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
Where does understanding dwell?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds in the sky.
concealed even from the birds in the sky.
22 Destructionb and Death say,
“Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
“Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,
and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,
and measured out the waters,
26 when he made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,
and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.
he confirmed it and tested it.
28 And he said to the human race,
“The fear of the Lord — that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.”
“The fear of the Lord — that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.”