28:1 There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
28:2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
28:3 Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
28:4 Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.
28:5 The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
28:6 lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
28:7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.
28:8 Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
28:9 People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
28:10 They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
28:11 They search* the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light. / *Septuagint, Aquila and Vulgate; Hebrew They dam up
28:12 But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
28:13 No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
28:14 The deep says, “It is not in me”; the sea says, “It is not with me.”
28:15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
28:16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
28:17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
28:18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
28:19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
28:20 Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
28:21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.
28:22 Destruction* and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.” / *Hebrew Abaddon
28:23 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
28:24 for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
28:25 When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
28:26 when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
28:27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
28:28 And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”