Read the Bible

¹ "Surely there is a source for silver, || And a place for the gold they refine;² Iron is taken from the dust, || And bronze [from] the firm stone.³ He has set an end to darkness, || And he is searching to all perfection, || A stone of darkness and death-shade.⁴ A stream has broken out from a sojourner, || Those forgotten of the foot, || They were low, they wandered from man.⁵ The earth! Bread comes forth from it, || And its under-part is turned like fire.⁶ A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, || And it has dust of gold.⁷ A path—a ravenous bird has not known it, || Nor has an eye of the falcon scorched it,⁸ Nor have the sons of pride trodden it, || The fierce lion has not passed over it.⁹ He sent forth his hand against the flint, || He overturned mountains from the root.¹⁰ Among rocks, he has cleaved brooks, || And his eye has seen every precious thing.¹¹ He has bound overflowing rivers, || And the hidden thing brings out [to] light.¹² And the wisdom—from where is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?¹³ Man has not known its arrangement, || Nor is it found in the land of the living.

¹⁴ The deep has said, It [is] not in me, || And the sea has 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 Gold and crystal do not equal it, || Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.¹⁸ Corals and pearl are not remembered, || The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.¹⁹ The topaz of Cush does not equal it, || It is not valued with pure gold.

²⁰ And the wisdom—from where does it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?²¹ It has been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the bird of the heavens || It has been hidden.²² Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard its fame.²³ God has understood its way, || And He has known its place.²⁴ For He looks to the ends of the earth, || He sees under the whole heavens,²⁵ To make a weight for the wind, || And He meted out the waters in measure.²⁶ In His making for the rain a limit, || And a way for the brightness of the voices,²⁷ Then He has seen and declares it, || He has prepared it, and also searched it out,²⁸ And He says to man: Behold, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, || And to turn from evil [is] understanding."