8:23

Notice the three time phrases that are similar in meaning.

23a
From everlasting I was established,

23b
from the beginning,

23c
before the earth began.

8:23a–c

From everlasting…from the beginning, before the earth began: In this and the preceding verse, the writer’s focus is not on the way in which Wisdom came into existence. Instead, the focus is on the long time that she has been in existence.

from the beginning, before the earth began: Other ways to translate from the beginning are:

in the very beginning (New Century Version)
-or-
at the very first (Contemporary English Version)

We are not told when the beginning took place. We only know that it was before the earth began or “before the earth came into being.” The New Living Translation (2004) translates the whole verse as:

I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. (New Living Translation (2004))

8:23a

From everlasting I was established: There are two ways to interpret this verb phrase:

(1) It means “appointed ” or “established.” For example:

From everlasting, I was firmly set (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It means “woven together ” or “formed.” For example:

I was formed in earliest times (Revised English Bible)

Both of these interpretations are well supported. You may choose either one.

If you choose interpretation (1), it may be necessary to make explicit that the LORD is the one who did the establishing. You may also need to state what Wisdom was established to be/do. For example:

⌊He⌋ appointed me ⌊to be his companion⌋ a very long time ago

If you choose interpretation (2), other ways to translate “woven together” are to use the verbs “created” or “made.” For example:

I was created in the very beginning (New Century Version)

The Display will follow interpretation (1).

From everlasting: This phrase refers to the distant past.

General Comment on 8:22–23

In some languages, it may be necessary to combine some of the parallel expressions in these verses in order to avoid unacceptable redundancy. Below are two ways to combine and/or reorder these two verses. There is one example of each of the two interpretations:

It was the LORD who caused me to exist and appointed me ⌊as his companion⌋ . He did this very long ago, before he created the world or anything else.
-or-
A very long time ago, at the first, before the LORD had made the world or anything else, he created/made me.

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