^{1 Ref} Surely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine;

^{2 Ref} Iron from the dust is taken, And `from' the firm stone brass.

^{3 Ref} An 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 Ref} The earth! from it cometh forth bread, And its under-part is turned like fire.

^{6 Ref} A place of the sapphire `are' its stones, And it hath dust of gold.

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

⁸ Nor trodden it have the sons of pride, Not passed over it hath the fierce lion.

^{9 Ref} Against the flint he sent forth his hand, He overturned from the root mountains.

^{10 Ref} Among rocks, brooks he hath cleaved, And every precious thing hath his eye seen.

^{11 Ref} From overflowing floods he hath bound, And the hidden thing bringeth out `to' light.

^{12 Ref} And the wisdom -- whence is it found? And where `is' this, the place of understanding?

^{13 Ref} Man hath not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.

^{14 Ref} The deep hath said, `It `is' not in me,' And the sea hath said, `It is not with me.'

^{15 Ref} Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed -- its price.

^{16 Ref} It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,

^{17 Ref} Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor `is' its exchange a vessel of fine gold.

^{18 Ref} Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom `is' above rubies.

^{19 Ref} Not equal it doth the topaz of Cush, With pure gold it is not valued.

^{20 Ref} And the wisdom -- whence doth it come? And where `is' this, the place of understanding?

^{21 Ref} It hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden.

^{22 Ref} Destruction and death have said: `With our ears we have heard its fame.'

^{23 Ref} God hath understood its way, And He hath known its place.

^{24 Ref} For He to the ends of the earth doth look, Under the whole heavens He doth see,

^{25 Ref} To make for the wind a weight, And the waters He meted out in measure.

^{26 Ref} In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,

^{27 Ref} Then He hath seen and declareth it, He hath prepared it, and also searched it out,

^{28 Ref} And He saith to man: -- `Lo, fear of the Lord, that `is' wisdom, And to turn from evil `is' understanding.'