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;^(A)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,^(B)
    before the hills, I was given birth,^(C)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.^(D)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,^(E)
    when he marked out the horizon^(F) on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he established the clouds above^(G)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,^(H)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary^(I)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,^(J)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.^(K)
30     Then I was constantly^[c] at his side.^(L)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,

⁶ Who, being in very nature^[a] God,^(A)
    did not consider equality with God^(B) something to be used to his own advantage;