22 "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,2 8:22 Or way ; or dominion ,3 8:22 Or The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work ; or The LORD brought me forth at the beginning of his work
before his deeds of old; |
23 I was appointed4 8:23 Or fashioned from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began. |
24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water; |
25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth, |
26 before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world. |
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, |
28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, |
29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. |
30 Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence, |
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind. |
32 "Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways. |
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it. |
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway. |
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD . |
36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death." |
