¹² But where can wisdom be found?^(A)
    Where does understanding dwell?^(B)
13 No mortal comprehends its worth;^(C)
    it cannot be found in the land of the living.^(D)
14 The deep^(E) says, “It is not in me”;
    the sea^(F) says, “It is not with me.”
¹⁵ It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
    nor can its price be weighed out in silver.^(G)
16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,^(H)
    with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.^(I)
17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,^(J)
    nor can it be had for jewels of gold.^(K)
18 Coral^(L) and jasper^(M) are not worthy of mention;
    the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.^(N)
19 The topaz^(O) of Cush^(P) cannot compare with it;
    it cannot be bought with pure gold.^(Q)

²⁰ Where then does wisdom come from?
    Where does understanding dwell?^(R)
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
    concealed even from the birds in the sky.^(S)
22 Destruction^[a](T) and Death^(U) say,
    “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
²³ God understands the way to it
    and he alone^(V) knows where it dwells,^(W)
24 for he views the ends of the earth^(X)
    and sees everything under the heavens.^(Y)
25 When he established the force of the wind
    and measured out the waters,^(Z)
26 when he made a decree for the rain^(AA)
    and a path for the thunderstorm,^(AB)
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
    he confirmed it and tested it.^(AC)

²² “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,^[a][b]
    before his deeds of old;
²³ I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
²⁴ When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
    when there were no springs overflowing with water;^(A)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,^(B)
    before the hills, I was given birth,^(C)