He ordered Judah to seek the <sc>Lordsc> God of their ancestors<n id="1" /> and to observe his law and commands.<n id="2" />

For a long time<n id="1" /> Israel had no true God, or priest to instruct them, or law.

Because of their distress, they turned back to the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them.<n id="1" />

They solemnly agreed<n id="1" /> to seek the <sc>Lordsc> God of their ancestors<n id="2" /> with their whole heart and being.

But Micaiah said, &#8220;As certainly as the <sc>Lordsc> lives, I will say what my God tells me to say!&#8221;p>

Now I intend<n id="1" /> to make a covenant with the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel, so that he may relent from his raging anger.<n id="2" />

everyone who has determined to follow God,<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> God of his ancestors, even if he is not ceremonially clean according to the standards of the temple.&#8221;<n id="2" />

In his pain<n id="1" /> Manasseh<n id="2" /> asked the <sc>Lordsc> his God for mercy<n id="3" /> and truly<n id="4" /> humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.<n id="5" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the former exiles<n id="1" /> were building a temple for the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel,

The king responded,<n id="1" /> &#8220;What is it you are seeking?&#8221; Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven

<p class="bodytext">Please remember me for good, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.p>

<p class="bodytext">Please remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, the covenant of the priesthood,<n id="1" /> and the Levites.p>

I also provided for<n id="1" /> the wood offering at the appointed times and also for the first fruits.p> <p class="bodytext">Please remember me for good, O my God.p>

<p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc> my God, if I have done what they say,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">or am guilty of unjust actions,<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Look at me!<n id="1" /> Answer me, O <sc>Lordsc> my God!p> <p class="poetry">Revive me,<n id="2" /> or else I will die!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed,<n id="1" /> you are my lamp, <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">My God<n id="3" /> illuminates the darkness around me.<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">For the music director; a psalm of David.p> <p class="poetry">May the <sc>Lordsc> answer<n id="2" /> you<n id="3" /> when you are in trouble;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">may the God of Jacob<n id="5" /> make you secure!p>

<p class="poetry">My God, I cry out during the day,p> <p class="poetry">but you do not answer,p> <p class="poetry">and during the night my prayers do not let up.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">My God, I trust in you.p> <p class="poetry">Please do not let me be humiliated;p> <p class="poetry">do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me!p>

<p class="poetry">Guide me into your truth<n id="1" /> and teach me.p> <p class="poetry">For you are the God who delivers me;p> <p class="poetry">on you I rely all day long.p>