From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the world existed.

For the upright will reside in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it,

By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth; he established the heavens by understanding.

before he made the earth and its fields, or the beginning of the dust of the world.

The righteous will never be moved, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.

Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

A king brings stability to a land by justice, but one who exacts tribute tears it down.

There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise:

Her husband is well-known in the city gate when he sits with the elders of the land.

when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.

the grave, the barren womb, land that is not satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “Enough!”

Under three things the earth trembles, and under four things it cannot bear up:

Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? – if you know!