¹³ Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.

¹⁵ Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.

¹⁶ It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.

¹⁷ Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.

¹⁸ There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.

¹⁹ The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.

⁸ They took away from him help and right, and who gave a thought to his fate? for he was cut off from the land of the living: he came to his death for the sin of my people.

¹¹ I said, I will not see the Lord, even the Lord in the land of the living: I will not see man again or those living in the world.

¹⁶ When I gave my mind to the knowledge of wisdom and to seeing the business which is done on the earth (and there are those whose eyes see not sleep by day or by night),

¹⁷ Then I saw all the work of God, and that man may not get knowledge of the work which is done under the sun; because, if a man gives hard work to the search he will not get knowledge, and even if the wise man seems to be coming to the end of his search, still he will be without knowledge.

²³ Get for yourself that which is true, and do not let it go for money; get wisdom and teaching and good sense.

¹⁶ How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.

¹⁸ Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness.

¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.

¹¹ For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her.

¹⁴ For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.

¹⁵ She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.

⁷² The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.

⁵ But God will put an end to you for ever; driving you out from your tent, uprooting you from the land of the living. (Selah.)

¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, even than much shining gold; sweeter than the dropping honey.

²¹ For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.

²² Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.

⁴⁴ The kingdom of heaven is like a secret store of wealth in a field, which a man came across and put back again; and in his joy he goes and gives all he has, to get that field.

⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader searching for beautiful jewels.

⁴⁶ And having come across one jewel of great price, he went and gave all he had in exchange for it.