Proverbs 8:22–36

²²“The Lord made ^jme

at the beginning of His creation, ^k

before His works of long ago. ^l

²³I was formed before ancient times,

from the beginning, before the earth began. ^m

²⁴I was born

when there were no watery depths ⁿ

and no springs filled with water.

²⁵I was delivered

before the mountains and hills were established, ^o

²⁶before He made the land, the fields,

or the first soil on earth.

²⁷I was there when He established the heavens, ^p

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

²⁸when He placed the skies above,

when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,

²⁹when 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

³⁰I was a skilled craftsman ^tbeside Him. ^u

I was His ^vdelight every day,

always rejoicing before Him.

³¹I was rejoicing in His inhabited world, ^w

delighting in the human race. ^x

³²“And now, my sons, listen to me;

those who keep my ways are happy. ^y

³³Listen to instruction and be wise; ^z

don’t ignore it.

³⁴Anyone who listens to me is happy, ^a

watching at my doors every day,

waiting by the posts of my doorway.

³⁵For the one who finds me finds life ^b

and obtains favor from the Lord, ^c

³⁶but the one who misses me ^dharms himself; ^e

all who hate me love death.” ^f