16. Rulers lead with my help,and nobles make righteous judgments.
17. “I love all who love me.Those who search will surely find me.
18. I have riches and honor,as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19. My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,my wages better than sterling silver!
20. I walk in righteousness,in paths of justice.
21. Those who love me inherit wealth.I will fill their treasuries.
22. “The lord formed me from the beginning,before he created anything else.
23. I was appointed in ages past,at the very first, before the earth began.
24. I was born before the oceans were created,before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25. Before the mountains were formed,before the hills, I was born—
26. before he had made the earth and fieldsand the first handfuls of soil.