For wisdom [is] better than rubies,.... A sort of precious stones: or, "than precious stones" z in general; so the Targum and Septuagint, Arabic and Syriac versions; even than all of them, as the Vulgate Latin version; or, than "pearls" a, or "carbuncles" b: there are none equal to it, nor is it to be procured by them; see
and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it;
z מפנינים "gemmis", Baynus; "prae gemmis politis", Schultens. a "Margaritas", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; "unionibus", Cocceius. b "Carbunculis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.