Yahweh created me, first-fruits of his fashioning,

before the oldest of his works.

From everlasting, I was firmly set,

from the beginning, before the earth came into being.

The deep was not, when I was born,

nor were the springs with their abounding waters.

Before the mountains were settled,

before the hills, I came to birth;

before he had made the earth, the countryside,

and the first elements of the world.

When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,

when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep,

when he thickened the clouds above,

when the sources of the deep began to swell,

when he assigned the sea its boundaries

and the waters will not encroach on the shore,

when he traced the foundations of the earth,

I was beside the master craftsman,

delighting him day after day,

ever at play in his presence,

at play everywhere on his earth,

delighting to be with the children of men.

And now, my children, listen to me.

Happy are those who keep my ways.

Listen to instruction and become wise,

do not reject it.

Blessed, whoever listens to me,

who day after day keeps watch at my gates

to guard my portals.

For whoever finds me finds life,

and obtains the favor of Yahweh;

but whoever misses me harms himself,

all who hate me are in love with death.

that go nowhere.

Prayers to Sophia, Joyce Rupp