Proverbs 8:22–36

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

before his deeds of old;

I was formed long ages ago,

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

When there were no oceans, I was given birth,

when there were no springs abounding with water;^y

before the mountains were settled in place,^z

before the hills, I was given birth,^a

before he made the world or its fields

or any of the dust of the earth.^b

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

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

when he established the clouds above^e

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,^f

when he gave the sea its boundary^g

so the waters would not overstep his command,^h

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.ⁱ

Then I was constantly at his side.^j

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in humankind.^k

“Now then, my children, listen^l to me;

blessed are^m those who keep my ways.ⁿ

Listen to my instruction and be wise;

do not disregard it.

Blessed are those who listen^o to me,

watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway.

For those who find me^p find life^q

and receive favor from the Lord.^r

But those who fail to find me harm themselves;^s

all who hate me love death.”^t