1“It is true that there are places where men dig to find silver,
2People dig iron ore out of the ground,
3Men use lamps while they work far down under the ground
4They dig ◄shafts/narrow holes very deep down into the ground► in places that are far from where people live,
5Food grows on the surface of the ground,
6The stones that are dug from under the ground contain ◄sapphires/very valuable blue stones►,
7Some birds have very good eyes,
8Lions or other proud wild animals have not walked on the roads near those mines.
9Miners tear apart [MTY] very hard rock;
10They cut tunnels through the rocks,
11They dam up small streams in order that water does not flow,
12“But wisdom: Where can people find that?
13Humans do not know where to find it;
14It is as though water that is deep inside the earth and water that is in the seas say [PRS],
15People cannot buy wisdom
16Wisdom is worth much more than fine gold from Ophir land
17It is worth much more than gold or beautiful glass,
18Wisdom is worth more than coral or crystal/pure quartz;
19The prices of ◄topaz/very valuable yellow stones► from Ethiopia and of pure gold
20“So, where does wisdom come from?
21No living humans can see it [MTY];
22It is as though the places where people go after they die say [PRS],
23God is the only one who knows how to find wisdom;
24because he can see things even in the most remote/distant places on the earth;
25When he decided how strongly the winds should blow,
26and when he decided where rain should fall,
27at that time he saw wisdom and decided that it is extremely valuable.
28And then he said to humans, ‘Listen! To have an awesome respect for me is what will enable you to become wise;