Proverbs 8:22–36

²²Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way,

Before his works of old.

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

Before the earth was.

²⁴When there were no depths, I was brought forth,

When there were no fountains abounding with water.

²⁵Before the mountains were settled,

Before the hills was I brought forth;

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

Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there:

When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

²⁸When he made firm the skies above,

When the fountains of the deep became strong,

²⁹When he gave to the sea its bound,

That the waters should not transgress his commandment,

When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

³⁰Then I was by him, as a master workman;

And I was daily his delight,

Rejoicing always before him,

³¹Rejoicing in his habitable earth;

And my delight was with the sons of men.

³²Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me;

For blessed are they that keep my ways.

³³Hear instruction, and be wise,

And refuse it not.

³⁴Blessed is the man that heareth me,

Watching daily at my gates,

Waiting at the posts of my doors.

³⁵For whoso findeth me findeth life,

And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.

³⁶But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:

All they that hate me love death.