12 But where can wisdom be found?

Where does understanding dwell?

13 No mortal comprehends its worth;

it cannot be found in the land of the living.

14 The deep says, “It is not in me”;

the sea says, “It is not with me.”

15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,

nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

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.

12 “But where shall wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?

13 Man does not know its worth,

and it is not found in the land of the living.

14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’

and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

15 It cannot be bought for gold,

and silver cannot be weighed as its price.

16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,

in precious onyx or sapphire.

17 Gold and glass cannot equal it,

nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal;

the price of wisdom is above pearls.

12 But where shall wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?

13 Man knoweth not the price thereof;

Neither is it found in the land of the living.

14 The depth saith, It is not in me:

And the sea saith, It is not with me.

15 It cannot be gotten for gold,

Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,

With the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it:

And the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls:

For the price of wisdom is above rubies.

12 “But do people know where to find wisdom?

Where can they find understanding?

13 No one knows where to find it,

for it is not found among the living.

14 ‘It is not here,’ says the ocean.

‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.

15 It cannot be bought with gold.

It cannot be purchased with silver.

16 It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir,

greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.

17 Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.

It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.

18 Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it.

The price of wisdom is far above rubies.

12 “But where can wisdom be found,

and where does understanding live?

13 People do not understand the value of wisdom;

it cannot be found among those who are alive.

14 The deep ocean says, ‘It’s not in me;’

the sea says, ‘It’s not in me.’

15 Wisdom cannot be bought with gold,

and its cost cannot be weighed in silver.

16 Wisdom cannot be bought with fine gold

or with valuable onyx or sapphire gems.

17 Gold and crystal are not as valuable as wisdom,

and you cannot buy it with jewels of gold.

18 Coral and jasper are not worth talking about,

and the price of wisdom is much greater than rubies.

12 But where shall wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?

13 Man knoweth not the price thereof;

Neither is it found in the land of the living.

14 The deep saith, It is not in me;

And the sea saith, It is not with me.

15 It cannot be gotten for gold,

Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,

With the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

17 Gold and glass cannot equal it,

Neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal:

Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies.

12 But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding? 13 Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.

14 The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me. 15 Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price. 16 It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire. 17 Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange. 18 Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.

12 “Where can wisdom be found? 

Where does understanding live? 

13 No mortal knows where it is.

It cannot be found in this world of the living. 

14 The deep ocean says, ‘It isn’t in me.’ 

The sea says, ‘It isn’t with me.’ 

15 You cannot obtain it with solid gold 

or buy it for any amount of silver. 

16 It can’t be bought with the gold from Ophir 

or with precious onyx or sapphire. 

17 Neither gold nor glass can equal its value. 

Nor can gold ornaments, jewels, or crystal 

18 be exchanged for it. 

Wisdom is more valuable than gems. 

12 But where can wisdom be found,

and where is understanding located?

13 No man can know its value,

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

14 The ocean depths say, “It’s not in me,”

while the sea declares, “I don’t have it.”

15 Gold cannot be exchanged for it,

and silver cannot be weighed out for its price.

16 Wisdom cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,

in precious onyx or sapphire.

17 Gold and glass do not compare with it,

and articles of fine gold cannot be exchanged for it.

18 Coral and quartz are not worth mentioning.

The price of wisdom is beyond pearls.

12 “But where shall wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?

13 Mortals do not know the way to it,

and it is not found in the land of the living.

14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’

and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

15 It cannot be gotten for gold,

and silver cannot be weighed out as its price.

16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,

in precious onyx or sapphire.

17 Gold and glass cannot equal it,

nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal;

the price of wisdom is above pearls.

12 “But from where will wisdom be found?

And where in the world is the place of understanding?

13 A human being does not know its proper value,

and it is not found in the land of the living.

14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’

and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

15 “Refined gold cannot be gotten in its place,

and silver cannot be weighed out as its price.

16 It cannot be bought for the gold of Ophir,

for precious onyx or sapphire.

17 Gold and glass cannot be compared with it,

and its substitution cannot be an ornament of refined gold.

18 Black corals and crystal will not be mentioned,

and wisdom’s price is more than red corals.

12 “And where can wisdom be found?

Where does understanding live?

13 No one knows how much it’s worth.

It can’t be found anywhere in the world.

14 The ocean says, ‘It’s not in me.’

The sea says, ‘It’s not here either.’

15 It can’t be bought with the finest gold.

Its price can’t be weighed out in silver.

16 It can’t be bought with gold from Ophir.

It can’t be bought with priceless onyx or sapphires.

17 Gold or crystal can’t compare with it.

It can’t be bought with jewels made of gold.

18 Don’t bother to talk about coral and jasper.

Wisdom is worth far more than rubies.

12 “But where can wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?

13 “Man does not know its value,

Nor is it found in the land of the living.

14 “The deep says, ‘It is not in me’;

And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

15 “Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it,

Nor can silver be weighed as its price.

16 “It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,

In precious onyx, or sapphire.

17 “Gold or glass cannot equal it,

Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.

18 “Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned;

And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls.