People know where to mine silver
and know how to refine gold.
They know where to dig iron from the earth
and how to smelt copper from rock.
They know how to shine light in the darkness
and explore the farthest regions of the earth
as they search in the dark for ore.
They sink a mine shaft into the earth
far from where anyone lives.
They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
Food is grown on the earth above,
but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.
Here the rocks contain precious lapis luzli,
and the dust contains gold.
These are treasures no bird of prey can see,
no falcon’s eye observe.
No wild animal has walked upon these treasures;
no lion has ever set a paw there.
People know how to tear apart flinty rocks
and overturn the roots of mountains.
They cut tunnels in the rocks
and uncover precious stones.
They dam up the trickling streams
and bring to the light hidden treasures.
But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
No one knows where to find it,
for it is not found among the living.
‘It is not here,’ says the ocean.
‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.
It cannot be bought with gold.
It cannot be purchased with silver.
It’s worth more than all the gold…
But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.
Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot
discover it.
Destruction and Death say,
‘We’ve only heard rumors where wisdom
can be found.’
