Proverbs 8:15-36

English Standard Version

^22 (J)“The Lord ^(K)possessed^[b] me at the beginning of his work,^[c]
    the first of his acts ^(L)of old.
²³ Ages ago I was ^(M)set up,
    at the first, ^(N)before the beginning of the earth.
²⁴ When there were no ^(O)depths I was ^(P)brought forth,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
²⁵ Before the mountains ^(Q)had been shaped,
    ^(R)before the hills, I was brought forth,
²⁶ before he had made the earth with its fields,
    or the first of the dust of the world.
²⁷ When he ^(S)established the heavens, I was there;
    when he drew ^(T)a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he ^(U)made firm the skies above,
    when he established^[d] the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ when he ^(V)assigned to the sea its ^(W)limit,
    so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out ^(X)the foundations of the earth,
³⁰     then ^(Y)I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his^{[e] (Z)}delight,
    rejoicing before him always,
^31 (AA)rejoicing in his ^(AB)inhabited world
    and delighting in the children of man.

³² “And now, ^(AC)O sons, listen to me:
    ^(AD)blessed are those who keep my ways.
^33 (AE)Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
^34 (AF)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.
³⁵ For ^(AG)whoever finds me ^(AH)finds life
    and ^(AI)obtains favor from the Lord,
³⁶ but he who fails to find me ^(AJ)injures himself;
    all who ^(AK)hate me ^(AL)love death.”