12 “I,
wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the LORD
is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound
judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;
16 by me princes
govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth.
17 I love those who
love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches
and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better
than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in the way
of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing wealth
on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.
22 “The LORD
brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
23 I was appointed
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,