Study Desk

There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.^(a)

Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.^(b)

Mortals put an end to the darkness;^(c) they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.^(d)

Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,^(e) in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.

The earth, from which food comes,^(f) is transformed below as by fire;

lapis lazuli^(g) comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.^(h)

No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it.⁽ⁱ⁾

Proud beasts^(j) do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.^(k)

People assault the flinty rock^(l) with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.^(m)

They tunnel through the rock;⁽ⁿ⁾ their eyes see all its treasures.^(o)

They search^[a] the sources of the rivers^(p) and bring hidden things^(q) to light.

But where can wisdom be found?^(r) Where does understanding dwell?^(s)

No mortal comprehends its worth;^(t) it cannot be found in the land of the living.^(u)

The deep^(v) says, "It is not in me"; the sea^(w) says, "It is not with me."

It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.^(x)

It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,^(y) with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.^(z)

Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,^(aa) nor can it be had for jewels of gold.^(ab)

Coral^(ac) and jasper^(ad) are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.^(ae)

The topaz^(af) of Cush^(ag) cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.^(ah)

Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?^(ai)

It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.^(aj)

Destruction^[b](ak) and Death^(al) say, "Only a rumor of it has reached our ears."

God understands the way to it and he alone^(am) knows where it dwells,^(an)

for he views the ends of the earth^(ao) and sees everything under the heavens.^(ap)

When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,^(aq)

when he made a decree for the rain^(ar) and a path for the thunderstorm,^(as)

then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.^(at)

And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil^(au) is understanding."^(av)