1. Shall wisdom cry aloud, And not her speech be heard? The voice of God's eternal Word, Deserves it no regard? | 2. "I was his chief delight, His everlasting Son, Before the first of all his works, Creation was begun. | 3. "Before the flying clouds, Before the solid land, Before the fields before the floods I dwelt at his right hand. | 4. "When he adorned the skies, And built them, I was there To order when the sun should rise, And marshal every star | 5. "When he poured out the sea, And spread the flowing deep, I gave the flood a firm decree In its own bounds to keep. | 6. "Upon the empty air The earth was balanced well; With joy I saw the mansion where The sons of men should dwell. | 7. "My busy thoughts at first On their salvation ran, Ere sin was born, or Adam's dust Was fashioned to a man. | 8. "Then come, receive my grace, Ye children, and be wise; Happy the man that keeps my ways; The man that shuns them dies." | |