19My fruit is better than fine gold;

what I yield surpasses choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness,

along the paths of justice,

21bestowing wealth on those who love me

and making their treasuries full.

22“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,^b,c

before his deeds of old;

23I was appointed^d from eternity,

from the beginning, before the world began.

24When there were no oceans, I was given birth,

when there were no springs abounding with water;

25before the mountains were settled in place,

before the hills, I was given birth,

26before he made the earth or its fields

or any of the dust of the world.

27I was there when he set the heavens in place,

when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28when he established the clouds above

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29when he gave the sea its boundary

so the waters would not overstep his command,

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30Then I was the craftsman at his side.

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

31rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in mankind.

32“Now then, my sons, listen to me;

blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Listen to my instruction and be wise;

do not ignore it.

34Blessed is the man who listens to me,

watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway.

35For whoever finds me finds life

and receives favor from the Lord.

36But whoever fails to find me harms himself;

all who hate me love death.”