“But where shall wisdom be found?
Where is the place of understanding?
Mortals do not know the way to it.
It is not found in the land of the living.
The deep says.
‘It is not in me.’
The sea says.
‘It is not with me.’
It cannot be gotten for gold.
Silver cannot be weighed out as its price.
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir.
It cannot be valued in precious onyx or sapphire.
Gold and glass cannot equal it.
It cannot be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal.
The price of wisdom is above pearls.
The chrysolite topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it.
It cannot be valued in pure gold.”
The important question remains, “Where can this wisdom be found?” In a beautiful colorful response this biblical author says where it is not to be found. No mortal humans have this wisdom since it cannot be found among the land of the living. It cannot be found in the oceans or seas. You cannot buy it either. No matter how much gold or silver you have, wisdom is more valuable. You cannot measure it with precious stones, glass, or gold. Coral, crystals, topaz, and pure gold are all less valuable than wisdom. Ophir is the place to find gold, while Ethiopia was the place of topaz. Wisdom is beyond any human knowledge or any precious item here on earth.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 