21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.

22 “The^a Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old. ‡

23 ^aI have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. ‡

24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 ^aBefore the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth; ‡

26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the¹ fields,
Or the¹ primal dust of the world. ‡

27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,

28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,

29 ^aWhen He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When ^bHe marked out the foundations of the earth, ‡

30 ^aThen I was beside Him as¹ a master craftsman;
^bAnd I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him, ‡

31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And ^amy delight was with the sons of men. ‡