41 The first parallel verb is נִסַּכְתִּי (nissakhti), “I was appointed.” It is not a common word; it occurs here and in Ps 2:6 for the coronation of the king. It means “installed, set.”
42 The verb “existed” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation in the light of the context.
43 The summary statements just given are now developed in a lengthy treatment of wisdom as the agent of all creation. This verse singles out “watery deeps” (תְּהֹמוֹת, téhomot) in its allusion to creation because the word in Genesis signals the condition of the world at the very beginning, and because in the ancient world this was something no one could control. Chaos was not there first—wisdom was.
44 The third parallel verb is חוֹלָלְתִּי (kholalti), “I was given birth.” Some (e.g., , , , ) translate it “brought forth”—not in the sense of being presented, but in the sense of being “begotten, given birth to.” Here is the strongest support for the translation of קָנָה (qanah) as “created” in v. 22. The verb is not literal; it continues the perspective of the personification.
45 Heb “made heavy.”
46 Heb “open places.”
47 Here רֹאשׁ (ro’sh) means “beginning” with reference to time ( 911 4.b).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Ages ago I was set up,

at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped,

before the hills, I was brought forth,

before he had made the earth with its fields,

or the first of the dust of the world.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I was formed long ages ago,

at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,

when there were no springs overflowing with water;

before the mountains were settled in place,

before the hills, I was given birth,

before he made the world or its fields

or any of the dust of the earth.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I was formed before ancient times,

from the beginning, before the earth began.

I was born

when there were no watery depths

and no springs filled with water.

Before the mountains

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

before he made the land, the fields,

or the first soil on earth.

NLTNew Living Translation

I was appointed in ages past,

at the very first, before the earth began.

I was born before the oceans were created,

before the springs bubbled forth their waters.

Before the mountains were formed,

before the hills, I was born—

before he had made the earth and fields

and the first handfuls of soil.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

From eternity, I was set up from the first,

from the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth,

when there were no springs of abounding water.

Before mountains had been shaped,

before hills, I was brought forth.

When he had not yet made earth and fields,

or the first dust of the world,

KJV 1900King James Version

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

Or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth;

When there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled,

Before the hills was I brought forth:

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

Nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

Public Domain