22  mThe Lord npossessed me oin pthe beginning of his way,

Before his works qof old.

23  I was rset up from everlasting, from the beginning,

sOr ever the earth was.

24  When there were no tdepths, I was ubrought forth;

When there were no fountains abounding with water.

25  Before the mountains vwere settled,

wBefore the hills was I ubrought forth:

26  While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the ||fields,

Nor ||the xhighest part of the dust of the world.

27  When he yprepared the heavens, I was there:

When he zset ||a compass upon the face of the tdepth:

28  When he established the clouds above:

When he strengthened the fountains of the tdeep:

29  aWhen he gave to the sea bhis decree,

That the waters should not pass his commandment:

When he zappointed cthe foundations of the earth:

30  dThen I was by him, as eone brought up with him:

And I was daily his fdelight,

gRejoicing always before him;

31  gRejoicing in hthe habitable part of his earth;

And my fdelights were iwith the sons of men.