1: "We all know how silver seams the rocks, we've seen the stuff from which gold is refined,
2: We're aware of how iron is dug out of the ground and copper is smelted from rock.
3: Miners penetrate the earth's darkness, searching the roots of the mountains for ore, digging away in the suffocating darkness.
4: Far from civilization, far from the traffic, they cut a shaft, and are lowered into it by ropes.
5: Earth's surface is a field for grain, but its depths are a forge
6: Firing sapphires from stones and chiseling gold from rocks.
7: Vultures are blind to its riches, hawks never lay eyes on it.
8: Wild animals are oblivious to it, lions don't know it's there.
9: Miners hammer away at the rock, they uproot the mountains.
10: They tunnel through the rock and find all kinds of beautiful gems.
11: They discover the origins of rivers, and bring earth's secrets to light.
12: "But where, oh where, will they find Wisdom? Where does Insight hide?
13: Mortals don't have a clue, haven't the slightest idea where to look.
14: Earth's depths say, "It's not here'; ocean deeps echo, "Never heard of it.'
15: It can't be bought with the finest gold; no amount of silver can get it.
16: Even famous Ophir gold can't buy it, not even diamonds and sapphires.
17: Neither gold nor emeralds are comparable; extravagant jewelry can't touch it.
18: Pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets--why bother? None of this is even a down payment on Wisdom!
19: Pile gold and African diamonds as high as you will, they can't hold a candle to Wisdom.
20: "So where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live?
21: It can't be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly.
22: If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, "We've only heard rumors of it.'
23: "God alone knows the way to Wisdom, he knows the exact place to find it.
24: He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven.
25: After he commanded the winds to blow and measured out the waters,
26: Arranged for the rain and set off explosions of thunder and lightning,
27: He focused on Wisdom, made sure it was all set and tested and ready.
28: Then he addressed the human race: "Here it is! Fear-of-the-Lord--that's Wisdom, and Insight means shunning evil.'"