Only may the <sc>Lordsc> give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obey<n id="1" /> the law of the <sc>Lordsc> your God.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much?<n id="1" /> Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.<n id="2" />

O <sc>Lordsc> our God, all this wealth, which we have collected to build a temple for you to honor your holy name, comes from you; it all belongs to you.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy<n id="1" /> because they sinned against you, then if they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you,<n id="2" /> and pray for your help<n id="3" /> before you in this temple,

then listen from your heavenly dwelling place to their prayers for help,<n id="1" /> vindicate them,<n id="2" /> and forgive your sinful people.p>

Then I will establish your dynasty,<n id="1" /> just as I promised your father David, &#8216;You will not fail to have a successor ruling over Israel.&#8217;<n id="2" />p>

They said to him, &#8220;If you are fair to these people, grant their request, and are cordial to them, they will be your servants from this time forward.&#8221;<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">After King Amaziah of Judah consulted with his advisers,<n id="1" /> he sent this message to the king of Israel, Joash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, &#8220;Come, face me on the battlefield.&#8221;<n id="2" />

We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control<n id="1" /> of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.&#8221;p>

The rest of the needs for the temple of your God that you may have to supply,<n id="1" /> you may do so from the royal treasury.p>

We have behaved corruptly against you, not obeying the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses.

While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther, &#8220;What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom,<n id="1" /> and it shall be done!&#8221;p>

and the Sabeans<n id="1" /> swooped down<n id="2" /> and carried them all away, and they killed<n id="3" /> the servants with the sword!<n id="4" /> And I &#8211; only I alone<n id="5" /> &#8211; escaped to tell you!&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc>, may you hear my prayer and be favorably disposed to me!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">O God, because of your great loyal love,p> <p class="poetry">answer me with your faithful deliverance!<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">For the music director; according to the <i>al-tashchethi> style;<n id="2" /> a psalm of Asaph; a song.p> <p class="poetry">We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks!p> <p class="poetry">You reveal your presence;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">people tell about your amazing deeds.p>

<p class="poetry">If your sons keep my covenantp> <p class="poetry">and the rules I teach them,p> <p class="poetry">their sons will also sit on your throne forever.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">because you have fallen into your neighbor&#8217;s power:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">go, humble yourself,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and appeal firmly<n id="4" /> to your neighbor.p>

<p class="poetry">for he is<n id="1" /> like someone calculating the cost<n id="2" /> in his mind.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Eat and drink,&#8221; he says to you,p> <p class="poetry">but his heart is not with you;p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Go, eat your food<n id="1" /> with joy,p> <p class="poetry">and drink your wine with a happy heart,p> <p class="poetry">because God has already approved your works.p>

<t /><p class="sosspeaker"><b><i>The Beloved to Her Lover:i>b>p> <p class="poetry">Until the dawn arrives<n id="1" /> and the shadows flee,p> <p class="poetry">turn,<n id="2" /> my beloved &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">be like a gazelle or a young stagp> <p class="poetry">on the mountain gorges.<n id="3" />p>