22 “The Lord acquiredC me

at the beginning of his creation,D

before his works of long ago.s

23 I was formedE before ancient times,

from the beginning, before the earth began.t

24 I was born

when there were no watery depthsu

and no springs filled with water.

25 Before the mountains

were established, prior to the hills,v I was given birth—

26 before he made the land, the fields,

or the first soil on earth.

27 I was there when he established the heavens,w

when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,x

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,y

when he laid out the foundations of the earth.z

30 I was a skilled craftsmanF beside him.aa

I was hisG delight every day,

always rejoicing before him.

31 I was rejoicing in his inhabited world,ab

delighting in the children of Adam.ac

32 “And now, sons, listen to me;

those who keep my ways are happy.ad

33 Listen to instruction and be wise;ae

don’t ignore it.

34 Anyone who listens to me is happy,af

watching at my doors every day,

waiting by the posts of my doorway.

35 For the one who finds me finds lifeag

and obtains favor from the Lord,ah

36 but the one who misses meA harms himself;a

all who hate me love death.”b