<p class="poetry">if the <sc>Lordsc> had not been on our side,p> <p class="poetry">when men attacked us,<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Whatever has happened is beyond human<n id="1" /> understanding;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">it is far deeper than anyone can fathom.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">A song of ascents,<n id="2" /> by David.p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;If the <sc>Lordsc> had not been on our side&#8221; &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">let Israel say this! &#8211;p>

<p class="poetry">So<n id="1" /> I was far wealthier<n id="2" /> than all my predecessors in Jerusalem,p> <p class="poetry">yet I maintained my objectivity:<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been;p> <p class="poetry">for God will seek to do again<n id="1" /> what has occurred<n id="2" /> in the past.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">What exists now<n id="1" /> is what will be,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and what has been done is what will be done;p> <p class="poetry">there is nothing truly new on earth.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Whatever has happened was foreordained,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and what happens to a person<n id="2" /> was also foreknown.p> <p class="poetry">It is useless for him to argue with God about his fatep> <p class="poetry">because God is more powerful than he is.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Not only was the Teacher wise,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but he also taught knowledge to the people;p> <p class="poetry">he carefully evaluated<n id="2" /> and arranged<n id="3" /> many proverbs.p>