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Old Testament Reading - Wisdom in creation

¹²Wisdom and good judgment live together, for wisdom knows where to discover knowledge and understanding. ¹³If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil. For wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption, and deceit of every kind.

^14-16“I, Wisdom, give good advice and common sense. Because of my strength, kings reign in power, and rulers make just laws.

²²The Lord formed me in the beginning, before he created anything else.^{a 23}From ages past, I am. I existed before the earth began. ²⁴I lived before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters onto the earth, ²⁵before the mountains and the hills were made. ²⁶Yes, I was born before God made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.

^27-29“I was there when he established the heavens and formed the great springs in the depths of the oceans. I was there when he set the limits of the seas and gave them his instructions not to spread beyond their boundaries. I was there when he made the blueprint for the earth and oceans. ³⁰I was the craftsman at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. ³¹And how happy I was with what he created — his wide world and all his family of mankind!

1. The reference here is to Wisdom. If this verse refers to Christ, this alternate translation is possible from the Hebrew text: “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work.”