A reading adapted from the book of Proverbs.

The Divine gave birth to me at the beginning,
before the first acts of creation
I have been from everlasting,
in the beginning before the world began.
Before the deep seas, I was brought forth,
before there were fountains or springs of water,
before the mountains erupted up into place,
Before the hills, I was born —
before God created the earth or its fields,
or even the first clods of dirt.
I was there when the Divine created the heavens,
and set the horizon just above the ocean,
set the clouds in the sky,
and established the springs of the deep,
gave the seas their boundaries
and set their limits at the shoreline.
When the foundation of the earth was laid out,
I was the skilled artisan standing next to the Divine.
I was God’s delight day after day,
rejoicing at being in God’s presence continually,
rejoicing in the whole world
and delighting in humankind.

And so, my daughters and sons, hear me well:
happy are you when you keep my ways!
Take my instructions seriously and grow wise;
don’t neglect my lessons.
Happy are you who listen to me,
and keep watch at my door for me,
waiting at my gates.
For you who find me, find life,
and earn the favor of the Divine.

The Word of God recorded in the book of Proverbs.