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.
19. Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it.It’s worth more than the purest gold.
20. “But do people know where to find wisdom?Where can they find understanding?
21. It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
22. Destruction and Death say,‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’
23. “God alone understands the way to wisdom;he knows where it can be found,
24. for he looks throughout the whole earthand sees everything under the heavens.
25. He decided how hard the winds should blowand how much rain should fall.
26. He made the laws for the rainand laid out a path for the lightning.
27. Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
28. And this is what he says to all humanity:‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;to forsake evil is real understanding.’”