22 “The Lord made j me

at the beginning of His creation, k

before His works of long ago. l

23 I was formed before ancient times,

from the beginning, before the earth began. m

24 I was born

when there were no watery depths n

and no springs filled with water.

25 I was delivered

before the mountains and hills were established, o

26 before He made the land, the fields,

or the first soil on earth.

27 I was there when He established the heavens, p

when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean, q

28 when He placed the skies above,

when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,

29 when He set a limit for the sea

so that the waters would not violate His command, r

when He laid out the foundations of the earth. s

30 I was a skilled craftsman t beside Him. u

I was His v delight every day,

always rejoicing before Him.

31 I was rejoicing in His inhabited world, w

delighting in the * human race. x