Wisdom Is the Craftsman of Creation
22The Lord possessed[] me at the beginning of his way, before his works of long ago.
23From eternity I was appointed,
from the beginning, from before the origin of the earth.
24When there were no deep waters, I was brought forth,[] when there were no springs filled with water.
25Before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
26when he had not yet made land or fields
or the first dust of the world.
27When he established the heavens, I was there.
When he drew the horizon around the surface of the deep,
28when he placed the clouds in the sky above,
when the fountains of the deep gushed out,
29when he established his decree for the sea,
so that the waters could not go beyond the limit set by his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30I was beside him as a master craftsman.
I was his joy day after day.
I rejoiced in his presence at all times.
31I rejoiced in his inhabited world.
I was delighted with the children of Adam.[] Wisdom Is the Giver of Life
32So now, you children, listen to me,
because those who keep my ways are blessed.
33Listen to discipline and become wise.
Do not neglect it.
34How blessed is the person who listens to me,
so that he can watch at my doors day after day,
so that he can stand guard beside my front door,
35because whoever finds me finds life,
and he obtains favor from the Lord,
36but whoever sins against me harms himself.
All who hate me love death.
