Proverbs 8:22-31

The Blessings of Wisdom

²² _s "The Lord _t possessed ₁ me at the beginning of his work, ₂
the first of his acts _u of old.
²³ Ages ago I was _v set up,
at the first, _w before the beginning of the earth.
²⁴ When there were no _x depths I was _y brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
²⁵ Before the mountains _z had been shaped,
_a 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 _b established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew _c a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he _d made firm the skies above,
when he established ₃ the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ when he _e assigned to the sea its _f limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out _g the foundations of the earth,
³⁰ then _h I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his _{4 i} delight,
rejoicing before him always,
³¹ _j rejoicing in his _k inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.

1. Cross References
   Job 28:25 - 28
   When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure.
   
2. Cross References
   Genesis 14:19
   And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.
   Genesis 14:22
   But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.
   Psalms 104:24
   O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
   Psalms 136:5
   To him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever.
   
3. Cross References
   Psalms 93:2
   Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
   
4. Cross References
   Psalms 2:6
   "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."
   
5. Cross References
   John 17:5
   And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
   
6. Cross References
   Proverbs 8:27 - 28
   When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep.
   Proverbs 3:20
   By his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
   Genesis 1:2
   The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
   
7. Cross References
   Job 15:7
   Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills?
   Psalms 51:5
   Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
   
8. Cross References
   Job 38:6
   On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone.
   
9. Cross References
   Psalms 90:2
   Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
   
10. Cross References
    Proverbs 3:19
    The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
    
11. Cross References
    Job 26:10
    He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.
    
12. Cross References
    Genesis 1:6
    And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.
    
13. Cross References
    Genesis 1:9 - 10
    And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.
    
14. Cross References
    Job 26:10
    He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.
    
15. Cross References
    Psalms 104:5
    He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
    
16. Cross References
    Zechariah 13:7
    Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the Lord of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.
    John 1:1 - 2
    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
    
17. Cross References
    Psalms 16:3
    As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
    Matthew 3:17
    And behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
    
18. Cross References
    Genesis 1:31
    And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
    Psalms 104:31
    May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works.
    
19. Cross References
    Isaiah 45:18
    For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the Lord, and there is no other.