For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.

When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

They have stricken me, wilt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

And lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.