12 But where can wisdom be found?y

Where does understanding dwell?z

13 No mortal comprehends its worth;a

it cannot be found in the land of the living.b

14 The deepc says, “It is not in me”;

the sead says, “It is not with me.”

15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,

nor can its price be weighed out in silver.e

16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,f

with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.g

17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,h

nor can it be had for jewels of gold.i

18 Coralj and jasperk are not worthy of mention;

the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.l

19 The topazm of Cushn cannot compare with it;

it cannot be bought with pure gold.o

20 Where then does wisdom come from?

Where does understanding dwell?p

21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,

concealed even from the birds in the sky.q

22 Destructionb r and Deaths say,

“Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”

23 God understands the way to it

and he alonet knows where it dwells,u

24 for he views the ends of the earthv

and sees everything under the heavens.w

25 When he established the force of the wind

and measured out the waters,x

26 when he made a decree for the rainy

and a path for the thunderstorm,z

27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;

he confirmed it and tested it.a

28 And he said to the human race,

“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,

and to shun evilb is understanding.”c