Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found

28 There is a mine for silver

and a place where gold is refined.h

2 Iron is taken from the earth,

and copper is smelted from ore.i

3 Mortals put an end to the darkness;j

they search out the farthest recesses

for ore in the blackest darkness.k

4 Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,l

in places untouched by human feet;

far from other people they dangle and sway.

5 The earth, from which food comes,m

is transformed below as by fire;

6 lapis lazulin comes from its rocks,

and its dust contains nuggets of gold.o

7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path,

no falcon’s eye has seen it.p

8 Proud beastsq do not set foot on it,

and no lion prowls there.r

9 People assault the flinty rocks with their hands

and lay bare the roots of the mountains.t

10 They tunnel through the rock;u

their eyes see all its treasures.v

11 They searcha the sources of the riversw

and bring hidden thingsx to light.