¹² But where can wisdom be found?^(A)
    Where does understanding dwell?^(B)

²⁰ Where then does wisdom come from?
    Where does understanding dwell?^(A)

¹⁹ By wisdom^(A) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^(B)
    by understanding he set the heavens^(C) in place;

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”^[a](A)

“I am determined to be wise”^(A)—
    but this was beyond me.
²⁴ Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
    who can discover it?^(B)
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
    to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things^(C)
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
    and the madness of folly.^(D)