Study Desk

"The LORD ^(F1)created me ^(C1)at the beginning of His way, Before His works ^(F2)of old.

-"From eternity I was ^(F1)(C1)established, From the beginning, ^(C2)from the earliest times of the earth.

-"When there were no ^(C1)ocean depths, I was born, When there were no springs abounding with water.

-"^(C1)Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was born;

While He had not yet made the earth and the ^(F1)fields, Nor the first dust of the world.

-"When He ^(C1)established the heavens, I was there; When ^(C2)He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

When He made firm the skies above, When the springs of the deep became ^(F1)fixed,

When ^(C1)He set a boundary for the sea So that the water would not violate His ^(F1)command, When He marked out ^(C2)the foundations of the earth;

Then ^(C1)I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was His delight daily, ^(F1)Rejoicing always before Him,

^(F1)Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having ^(C1)my delight in the sons of mankind.

"Now then, sons, ^(C1)listen to me, For ^(C2)blessed are those who keep my ways.

-"^(C1)Listen to instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.

-"^(C1)Blessed is the person who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.

-"For ^(C1)one who finds me finds life, And ^(C2)obtains favor from the LORD.

-"But one who ^(F1)sins against me ^(C1)injures himself; All those who ^(C2)hate me ^(C3)love death."