²² “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,^[a][b]
    before his deeds of old;

¹⁹ By wisdom^(A) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^(B)
    by understanding he set the heavens^(C) in place;

²⁴ How many are your works,^(A) Lord!
    In wisdom you made^(B) them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.^(C)

²⁶ when he made a decree for the rain^(A)
    and a path for the thunderstorm,^(B)
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
    he confirmed it and tested it.^(C)
28 And he said to the human race,
    “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
    and to shun evil^(D) is understanding.”^(E)