Proverbs 8:14-26

Contemporary English Version

¹⁴I am strong, and I offer
sensible advice
    and sound judgment.
¹⁵By my power kings govern,
and rulers make laws
    that are fair.
¹⁶Every honest leader rules
    with help from me.

¹⁷I love everyone who loves me,
and I will be found by all
    who honestly search.
¹⁸I can make you rich and famous,
    important and successful.
¹⁹What you receive from me
    is more valuable
than even the finest gold
    or the purest silver.
²⁰I always do what is right,
²¹and I give great riches
    to everyone who loves me.

²²^(A) From the beginning,
    I was with the Lord.^[a]
I was there before he began
²³    to create the earth.
At the very first,
    the Lord gave life to^[b] me.
²⁴When I was born,
there were no oceans
    or springs of water.
²⁵My birth was before
mountains were formed
    or hills were put in place.
²⁶It happened long before God
    had made the earth
or any of its fields
    or even the dust.