In Praise of Wisdom
1 There are mines where silver is dug;
There are places where gold is refined.
2 We dig iron out of the ground
And melt copper out of the stones.
3 Miners explore the deepest darkness.
They search the depths of the earth
And dig for rocks in the darkness.
4 Far from where anyone lives
Or human feet ever travel,
They dig the shafts of mines.
There they work in loneliness,
Clinging to ropes in the pits.
5 Food grows out of the earth,
But underneath the same earth
All is torn up and crushed.
6 The stones of the earth contain sapphires,
And its dust contains gold.
7 No hawk sees the roads to the mines,
And no vulture ever flies over them.
8 No lion or other fierce beast
Ever travels those lonely roads.
9 Miners dig the hardest rocks,
Dig mountains away at their base.
10 As they tunnel through the rocks,
They discover precious stones.
11 They dig to the sources of rivers
And bring to light what is hidden.
12 But where can wisdom be found?
Where can we learn to understand?
13 Wisdom is not to be found among mortals;
No one knows its true value.
14 The depths of the oceans and seas
Say that wisdom is not found there.
15 It cannot be bought with silver or gold.
16 The finest gold and jewels
Cannot equal its value.
17 It is worth more than gold,
Than a gold vase or finest glass.
18 The value of wisdom is more
Than coral or crystal or rubies.
19 The finest topaz and the purest gold
Cannot compare with the value of wisdom.
20 Where, then, is the source of wisdom?
Where can we learn to understand?
21 No living creature can see it,
Not even a bird in flight.
22 Even death and destruction
Admit they have heard only rumors.
23 God alone knows the way,
Knows the place where wisdom is found,
24 Because he sees the ends of the earth,
Sees everything under the sky.
25 When God gave the wind its power
And determined the size of the sea;
26 When God decided where the rain would fall,
And the path that the thunderclouds travel;
27 It was then he saw wisdom and tested its worth—
He gave it his approval.
28 God said to us humans,
“To be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord.
To understand, you must turn from evil.”
Par gudrību un atziņu
1 Ir vietas, kur sudrabu rod,
kur zeltu tīra no sārņiem,
2 dzelzi no pīšļiem rok
un iežus pārkausē varā.
3 Cilvēks tumsai robežas sprauž,
izlodā malu malas,
iežus, kas tumsībā un nāves ēnā,
4 raktuves lauž, kur ļaužu nav,
kur nav minusi kāja, –
šūpojas virvēs, kur neviena nav!
5 Zeme, no kuras maize nāk,
apakšā ugunīs mutuļo,
6 zemes akmeņos safīri gul,
zelta smiltis ir tur.
7 Ērglis nezina taku turp,
nemana tos vanaga acs,
8 nemīņā tos lepnības dēli ,
nestaigā pār tiem lauva.
9 Pie krama liek cilvēks roku
un izceļ ar saknēm kalnus,
10 klintīs tas gultnes izcērt,
visus dārgumus redz tā acs.
11 Straumes nosien, lai neasaro,
apslēpto iznes gaismā!
12 Bet gudrība – kur to rast?
Un saprašana – kur tā mīt?
13 Nezin cilvēks ceļu pie tās,
nevar to rast dzīvo zemē.
14 Dzīle saka: manī tās nav!
Un dzelme saka: nav pie manis!
15 Nevar to atsvērt tīrā zeltā,
sudrabā nevar atmērīt,
16 par Ofīra kalumiem to nedabūt,
nedz dārgiem oniksiem un safīriem,
17 nestāv tai līdzās ne zelts, ne stikls,
nevar to iemīt pret zelta trauku.
18 Koraļļi, kristāls – kas piemin tos? –
par pērlēm gudrība vērtīgāka!
19 Nestāv tai līdzās pat Kūšas topāzi,
pat tīrā zeltā nevar to vērtēt!
20 Gudrība – no kurienes tā,
un saprašana – kur tā mīt?
21 Tā noslēpta visu dzīvo acīm,
no debesu putniem noglabāta.
22 Bezdibenis un nāve saka:
tik dzirdējuši esam par to!
23 Dievs saprot ceļu pie tās,
viņš vien zina tās vietu,
24 jo viņš līdz zemes malai redz,
skata visu, kas apakš debess!
25 Kad viņš vējam piešķīra svaru
un ūdenim nolika mēru,
26 kad viņš lietum likumu lēma
un ceļu pērkona dārdiem,
27 tad viņš skatīja to un pasludināja,
iedibināja to un pārbaudīja
28 un sacīja cilvēkam:
redzi, bijāt Kungu ir gudrība,
un vairīties ļauna ir saprašana!”
