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)

³⁰     Then I was constantly^[a] at his side.^(A)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,