Proverbs 8:22–36

²²“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,^cd

before his deeds of old;

²³I was formed long ages ago,

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

²⁴When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,

when there were no springs overflowing with water;^s

²⁵before the mountains were settled in place,^t

before the hills, I was given birth,^u

²⁶before he made the world or its fields

or any of the dust of the earth.^v

²⁷I was there when he set the heavens in place,^w

when he marked out the horizon^x on the face of the deep,

²⁸when he established the clouds above^y

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,^z

²⁹when he gave the sea its boundary^a

so the waters would not overstep his command,^b

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.^c

³⁰Then I was constantly^e at his side.^d

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

³¹rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in mankind.^e

³²“Now then, my children, listen^f to me;

blessed are^g those who keep my ways.^h

³³Listen to my instruction and be wise;

do not disregard it.

³⁴Blessed are those who listenⁱ to me,

watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway.

³⁵For those who find me^j find life^k

and receive favor from the Lord.^l

³⁶But those who fail to find me harm themselves;^m

all who hate me love death.”ⁿ