Dec 13, 2019
22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his
works,[a][b]
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to
be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was
given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with
water;
25 before the mountains were settled in
place,
before the hills, I was given
birth,
26 before he made the world or its
fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
27 I was there when he set the heavens in
place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of
the deep,
28 when he established the clouds
above
and fixed securely the fountains of the
deep,
29 when he gave the sea its
boundary
so the waters would not overstep his
command,
and when he marked out the foundations
of the earth.
30 Then I was
constantly[c] at
his side.
I was filled with delight day after
day,
rejoicing always in his
presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.
32 “Now then, my
children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my
ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be
wise;
do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen to
me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me find
life
and receive favor from the Lord.
36 But those who fail to find me harm
themselves;
all who hate me love death.”