25. I was born before the mountains,before the hills were set in place,
26. before God made the earth and its fieldsor even the first handful of soil.
27. I was there when he set the sky in place,when he stretched the horizon across the ocean,
28. when he placed the clouds in the sky,when he opened the springs of the ocean
29. and ordered the waters of the seato rise no further than he said.I was there when he laid the earth's foundations.
30. I was beside him like an architect,I was his daily source of joy,always happy in his presence —
31. happy with the worldand pleased with the human race.