Proverbs 8:22–36

²²“I, wisdom, was with the Lord when he began his work,

long before he made anything else.

²³I was created in the very beginning,

even before the world began.

²⁴I was born before there were oceans,

or springs overflowing with water,

²⁵before the hills were there,

before the mountains were put in place.

²⁶God had not made the earth or fields,

not even the first dust of the earth.

²⁷I was there when God put the skies in place,

when he stretched the horizon over the oceans,

²⁸when he made the clouds above

and put the deep underground springs in place.

²⁹I was there when he ordered the sea

not to go beyond the borders he had set.

I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.

³⁰I was like a child by his side.

I was delighted every day,

enjoying his presence all the time,

³¹enjoying the whole world,

and delighted with all its people.

³²“Now, my children, listen to me,

because those who follow my ways are happy.

³³Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise;

do not ignore it.

³⁴Happy are those who listen to me,

watching at my door every day,

waiting at my open doorway.

³⁵Those who find me find life,

and the Lord will be pleased with them.

³⁶Those who do not find me hurt themselves.

Those who hate me love death.”