Proverbs 8:22–36

Wisdom’s Part in Creation

²²“The Lord created me at the beginning^y of his work,^z

the first of his acts of long ago.^*

²³Ages ago I was set up,

at the first, before the beginning of the earth.^*

²⁴When there were no depths I was brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

²⁵Before the mountains had been shaped,

before the hills, I was brought forth,^*

²⁶when he had not yet made earth and fields^a

or the world’s first bits of soil.

²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there;

when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,^*

²⁸when he made firm the skies above,

when he established the fountains of the deep,

²⁹when he assigned to the sea its limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,^*

³⁰then I was beside him, like a master worker,^b

and I was daily his^c delight,

playing before him always,^*

³¹playing in his inhabited world

and delighting in the human race.^*

³²“And now, my children, listen to me:

happy are those who keep my ways.^*

³³Hear instruction and be wise,

and do not neglect it.

³⁴Happy is the one who listens to me,

watching daily at my gates,

waiting beside my doors.^*

³⁵For whoever finds me finds life

and obtains favor from the Lord,^*

³⁶but those who miss me injure themselves;

all who hate me love death.”^*