Proverbs 8:30

then I was ¹  beside him as a master craftsman, ²  and I was his delight ³  day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,

Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,

Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,

I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.

I was right there with him, making sure everything fit. Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause, always enjoying his company,

Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times;

then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,

then I was ¹  beside him as a master craftsman, ²  and I was his delight ³  day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,

¹ tn The verb form is a preterite with vav consecutive, although it has not been apocopated. It provides the concluding statement for the temporal clauses as well as the parallel to v. 27.

² tn Critical to the interpretation of this line is the meaning of אָמוֹן (’amon). Several suggestions have been made: “master craftsman” (cf. ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV), “nursing child” (cf. NCV), “foster father.” R. B. Y. Scott chooses “faithful” – a binding or living link (“Wisdom in Creation: The ‘Amon of Proverbs 8:30,” VT 10 [1960]: 213-23). The image of a child is consistent with the previous figure of being “given birth to” (vv. 24, 25). However, “craftsman” has the most support (LXX, Vulgate, Syriac, Tg. Prov 8:30, Song 7:1; Jer 52:15; also P. W. Skehan, “Structures in Poems on Wisdom: Proverbs 8 and Sirach 24,” CBQ 41 [1979]: 365-79).

³ tn The word is a plural of intensification for “delight”; it describes wisdom as the object of delight. The LXX has the suffix; the Hebrew does not.