Proverbs 8:22-31

Contemporary English Version

^22 (A) From the beginning,
    I was with the Lord.^[a]
I was there before he began
²³     to create the earth.
At the very first,
    the Lord gave life to^[b] me.
²⁴ When I was born,
there were no oceans
    or springs of water.
²⁵ My birth was before
mountains were formed
    or hills were put in place.
²⁶ It happened long before God
    had made the earth
or any of its fields
    or even the dust.

^27 (B) I was there when the Lord
    put the heavens in place
and stretched the sky
    over the surface of the sea.
²⁸ I was with him when he placed
    the clouds in the sky
and created the springs
    that fill the ocean.
²⁹ I was there when he set
boundaries for the sea
    to make it obey him,
and when he laid foundations
    to support the earth.

³⁰ I was right beside the Lord,
    helping him plan and build.^[c]
I made him happy each day,
    and I was happy at his side.
³¹ I was pleased with his world
    and pleased with its people.