- 1. Surely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine;
- 2. Iron from the dust is taken, And `from' the firm stone brass.
- 3. 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. The earth! from it cometh forth bread, And its under-part is turned like fire.
- 6. A place of the sapphire `are' 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. Nor trodden it have the sons of pride, Not passed over it hath the fierce lion.
- 9. Against the flint he sent forth his hand, He overturned from the root mountains.
- 10. Among rocks, brooks he hath cleaved, And every precious thing hath his eye seen.
- 11. From overflowing floods he hath bound, And the hidden thing bringeth out `to' light.
- 12. And the wisdom -- whence is it found? And where `is' this, the place of understanding?
- 13. Man hath not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
- 14. The deep hath said, `It `is' not in me,' And the sea hath said, `It is not with me.'
- 15. Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed -- its price.
- 16. It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,
- 17. Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor `is' its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
- 18. Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom `is' above rubies.
- 19. Not equal it doth the topaz of Cush, With pure gold it is not valued.
- 20. And the wisdom -- whence doth it come? And where `is' this, the place of understanding?
- 21. It hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden.
- 22. Destruction and death have said: `With our ears we have heard its fame.'
- 23. God hath understood its way, And He hath known its place.
- 24. For He to the ends of the earth doth look, Under the whole heavens He doth see,
- 25. To make for the wind a weight, And the waters He meted out in measure.
- 26. In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,
- 27. Then He hath seen and declareth it, He hath prepared it, and also searched it out,
- 28. And He saith to man: -- `Lo, fear of the Lord, that `is' wisdom, And to turn from evil `is' understanding.'
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