²³ I was appointed^[a] from eternity,
   from the beginning, before the world began.
²⁴ When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
   when there were no springs abounding with water;
²⁵ before the mountains were settled in place,
   before the hills, I was given birth,
²⁶ before he made the earth or its fields
   or any of the dust of the world.
²⁷ I was there when he set the heavens in place,
   when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,