Proverbs 8:16-35

¹⁶Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.

¹⁷Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.

¹⁸Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.

²⁰I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging:

²¹So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full.

²²The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past.

²³From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was.

²⁴When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water.

²⁵Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth:

²⁶When he had not made the earth or the fields or the dust of the world.

²⁷When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over the face of the deep:

²⁸When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed:

²⁹When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth:

³⁰Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times;

³¹Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.

³²Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.

³³Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go.

³⁴Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house.

³⁵For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.