Proverbs 8:22-31

Other Translations of Proverbs 8:22-31

New International Version

²² "The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,Or "way" ; or "dominion"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 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; ²⁵ before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, ²⁶ before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. 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 constantlyOr "was the artisan" ; or "was a little child" 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.

English Standard Version

²² "The Lord possessedOr fathered; Septuagint created me at the beginning of his work,Hebrew way the first of his acts of old. ²³ Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. ²⁴ When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. ²⁵ Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, ²⁶ before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. ²⁷ When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, ²⁸ when he made firm the skies above, when he establishedThe meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain the fountains of the deep, ²⁹ when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, ³⁰ then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily hisOr daily filled with delight, rejoicing before him always, ³¹ rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

The Message

²² "God sovereignly made me - the first, the basic - before he did anything else. ²³ I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got its start. ²⁴ I arrived on the scene before Ocean, yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes. ²⁵ Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape, I was already there, newborn; ²⁶ Long before God stretched out Earth's Horizons, and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather, ²⁷ And set Sky firmly in place, I was there. When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean, ²⁸ built the vast vault of Heaven, and installed the fountains that fed Ocean, ²⁹ When he drew a boundary for Sea, posted a sign that said, no trespassing, And then staked out Earth's foundations, ³⁰ I was right there with him, making sure everything fit. Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause, always enjoying his company, ³¹ Delighted with the world of things and creatures, happily celebrating the human family.

New King James Version

²² "The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. ²³ I 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 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; ²⁶ While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primeval 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 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, ³⁰ Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, ³¹ Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.

New Living Translation

²² "The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. ²³ I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. ²⁴ I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. ²⁵ Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born- ²⁶ before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil. ²⁷ I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. ²⁸ I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. ²⁹ I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth's foundations, ³⁰ I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. ³¹ And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!