¹⁶ How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; My yield than choice silver.

¹⁰ Receive my instruction rather than silver; Knowledge rather than choice gold.

¹¹ For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.

¹³ Man doesn't know its price; Neither is it found in the land of the living.

¹⁴ The deep says, 'It isn't in me.' The sea says, 'It isn't with me.'

¹⁵ It can't be gotten for gold, Neither shall silver be weighed for its price.

¹⁶ It can't be valued with the gold of Ophir, With the precious onyx, or the sapphire{or, lapis lazuli}.

¹⁷ Gold and glass can't equal it, Neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

¹⁸ No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal: Yes, the price of wisdom is above rubies.

¹⁹ The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

²⁰ Whence then comes wisdom? Where is the place of understanding?

²¹ Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, And kept close from the birds of the sky.

²² Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'

²³ "God understands its way, And he knows its place.

²⁴ For he looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole sky.

²⁵ He establishes the force of the wind; Yes, he measures out the waters by measure.

²⁶ When he made a decree for the rain, And a way for the lightning of the thunder;

²⁷ Then did he see it, and declare it. He established it, yes, and searched it out.

²⁸ To man he said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.'"

¹²⁷ Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, Yes, more than pure gold.

¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

⁷ Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

¹² For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

²⁶ For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

²¹ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."