16. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
20. Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
21. It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.
22. Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23. God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
24. for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
26. when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
27. then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.