12. As for wisdom—where can she be found?Where is the place of understanding?
13. Mortals do not know her path,nor is she to be found in the land of the living.
14. The Deep says, “She is not in me”;and the Sea says, “She is not with me.”
15. Solid gold cannot purchase her,nor can her price be paid with silver.
16. She cannot be bought with gold of Ophir,with precious onyx or lapis lazuli,
17. Gold or crystal cannot equal her,nor can golden vessels be exchanged for her.
18. Neither coral nor crystal should be thought of;the value of wisdom surpasses pearls.
19. Ethiopian topaz does not equal her,nor can she be weighed out for pure gold.
20. As for wisdom, where does she come from?Where is the place of understanding?
21. She is hidden from the eyes of every living thing;even from the birds of the air she is concealed.
22. Abaddon and Death say,“Only by rumor have we heard of her.”
23. But God understands the way to her;it is he who knows her place.
24. For he beholds the ends of the earthand sees all that is under the heavens.
25. When he weighed out the wind,and measured out the waters;
26. When he made a rule for the rainand a path for the thunderbolts,
27. Then he saw wisdom and appraised her,established her, and searched her out.
28. And to mortals he said:See: the fear of the Lord is wisdom;and avoiding evil is understanding.