1
BSB
“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
2
BSB
Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
3
BSB
Man puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness.
4
BSB
Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.
5
BSB
Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.
6
BSB
Its rocks are the source of sapphires, containing flecks of gold.
7
BSB
No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8
BSB
Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it.
9
BSB
The miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base.
10
BSB
He hews out channels in the rocks, and his eyes spot every treasure.
11
BSB
He stops up the sources of the streams to bring what is hidden to light.
12
BSB
But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell?
13
BSB
No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.
14
BSB
The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’
15
BSB
It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16
BSB
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
17
BSB
Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
18
BSB
Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19
BSB
Topaz from Cush cannot compare to it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20
BSB
From where then does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell?
21
BSB
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air.
22
BSB
Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor about it.’
23
BSB
But God understands its way, and He knows its place.
24
BSB
For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25
BSB
When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters,
26
BSB
when He set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt,
27
BSB
then He looked at wisdom and appraised it; He established it and searched it out.
28
BSB
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
BSB: Berean Standard Bible (BSB). Dedicated to the public domain by the rights holder.