WeBible

1 - Surely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine;

2 - Iron from the dust is taken, And <FI>from<Fi> the firm stone brass.

3 - An end hath he set to darkness, And to all perfection he is searching, A stone of darkness and death-shade.

4 - A stream hath broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, from man they wandered.

5 - The earth! from it cometh forth bread, And its under-part is turned like fire.

6 - A place of the sapphire <FI>are<Fi> its stones, And it hath dust of gold.

7 - A path--not known it hath a ravenous fowl, Nor scorched it hath an eye of the kite,

8 - Nor trodden it have the sons of pride, Not passed over it hath the fierce lion.

9 - Against the flint he sent forth his hand, He overturned from the root mountains.

10 - Among rocks, brooks he hath cleaved, And every precious thing hath his eye seen.

11 - From overflowing floods he hath bound, And the hidden thing bringeth out <FI>to<Fi> light.

12 - And the wisdom--whence is it found? And where <FI>is<Fi> this, the place of understanding?

13 - Man hath not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.

14 - The deep hath said, `It <FI>is<Fi> not in me,' And the sea hath said, `It is not with me.'

15 - Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed--its price.

16 - It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,

17 - Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor <FI>is<Fi> its exchange a vessel of fine gold.

18 - Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom <FI>is<Fi> above rubies.

19 - Not equal it doth the topaz of Cush, With pure gold it is not valued.

20 - And the wisdom--whence doth it come? And where <FI>is<Fi> this, the place of understanding?

21 - It hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden.

22 - Destruction and death have said: `With our ears we have heard its fame.'

23 - God hath understood its way, And He hath known its place.

24 - For He to the ends of the earth doth look, Under the whole heavens He doth see,

25 - To make for the wind a weight, And the waters He meted out in measure.

26 - In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,

27 - Then He hath seen and declareth it, He hath prepared it, and also searched it out,

28 - And He saith to man: --`Lo, fear of the Lord, that <FI>is<Fi> wisdom, And to turn from evil <FI>is<Fi> understanding.'