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"The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
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I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
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When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.
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Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;
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While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primeval dust of the world.
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When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
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When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
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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,
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Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
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Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.
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"Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
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Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.
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Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
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For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord;
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But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death."