<p class="poetry">You know when I sit down and when I get up;p> <p class="poetry">even from far away you understand my motives.p>

<p class="poetry">I have asked the <sc>Lordsc> for one thing &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">this is what I desire!p> <p class="poetry">I want to live<n id="1" /> in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s house<n id="2" /> all the days of my life,p> <p class="poetry">so I can gaze at the splendor<n id="3" /> of the <sc>Lordsc>p> <p class="poetry">and contemplate in his temple.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;Therefore,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8216;I have become compassionate<n id="1" /> toward Jerusalem<n id="2" /> and will rebuild my temple<n id="3" /> in it,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all. &#8216;Once more a surveyor&#8217;s measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.&#8217;

The Lord says, &#8216;I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem.<n id="1" /> Now Jerusalem will be called &#8220;truthful city,&#8221; &#8220;mountain of the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all,&#8221; &#8220;holy mountain.&#8221;&#8217;

so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah &#8211; do not fear!

<p class="bodytext">Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah &#8211; all of whom were Levites<n id="1" /> &#8211; were teaching the people the law, as the people remained standing.

<t /><p class="poetry">Again,<n id="1" /> I observed this on the earth:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the race is not always<n id="3" /> won by the swiftest,p> <p class="poetry">the battle is not always won by the strongest;p> <p class="poetry">prosperity<n id="4" /> does not always belong to those who are the wisest,p> <p class="poetry">wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning,p> <p class="poetry">nor does success<n id="5" /> always come to those with the most knowledge &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">for time and chance may overcome<n id="6" /> them all.p>