OnethingI have askedfrom the LORD,that I shall seek:That I may dwellin the houseof the LORDallthe daysof my life,To beholdthe beautyof the LORDAnd to meditatein His temple.
Now there was a faminein the daysof Davidfor threeyears,yearafteryear;and Davidsoughtthe presenceof the LORD.And the LORDsaid,"It is for Sauland his bloodyhouse,becausehe putthe Gibeonitesto death."
Surelygoodnessand lovingkindnesswill followme allthe daysof my life,And I will dwellin the houseof the LORDforever.
I shall washmy handsin innocence,And I will goaboutYour altar,O LORD,
O LORD,I lovethe habitationof Your houseAnd the placewhereYour glorydwells.
[When You said], "SeekMy face,"my heartsaidto You, "Your face,O LORD,I shall seek."
Out of Zion,the perfectionof beauty,Godhas shoneforth.
How blessedis the one whom You chooseand bringnear[to You] To dwellin Your courts.We will be satisfiedwith the goodnessof Your house,Your holytemple.
For a dayin Your courtsis betterthana thousand[outside]. I would rather standat the thresholdof the houseof my GodThandwellin the tentsof wickedness.
How blessedare those who dwellin Your house!They are everpraisingYou. Selah.
Let the favorof the Lordour Godbe upon us; And confirmfor us the workof our hands;Yes, confirmthe workof our hands.
You will seekMe and find[Me] whenyou searchfor Me with allyour heart.
So I gavemy attentionto the LordGodto seek[Him by] prayerand supplications,with fasting,sackclothand ashes.
Rejoicegreatly,O daughterof Zion!Shout[in triumph], O daughterof Jerusalem!Behold,your kingis comingto you; He is justand endowedwith salvation,Humble,and mountedon a donkey,Even on a colt,the foalof a donkey.
"But seekfirstHis kingdomand His righteousness,and allthese thingswill be addedto you.
but [only] onethingis necessary,for Maryhas chosenthe goodpart,whichshall not be taken awayfrom her."
"Striveto enterthroughthe narrowdoor;for many,I tellyou, will seekto enterand will not be able.
NowHe was tellingthem a parableto show that at all timesthey oughtto prayand not to lose heart,
and then as a widowto the ageof eighty-four.She neverleftthe temple,servingnightand daywith fastingsand prayers.
But we all,with unveiledface,beholding as in a mirrorthe gloryof the Lord,are being transformedinto the sameimagefrom gloryto glory,justas from the Lord,the Spirit.
For God,who said,"Lightshall shineout of darkness,"is the One whohas shonein our heartsto give the Lightof the knowledgeof the gloryof Godin the faceof Christ.
Brethren,I do not regardmyselfas having laid holdof [it] yet;but one thing[I do]: forgettingwhat [lies] behindand reaching forwardto what [lies] ahead,
Nowshe who is a widowindeedand who has been left alone,has fixed her hopeon Godand continuesin entreatiesand prayersnightand day.
And withoutfaithit is impossibleto please[Him], for he who comesto Godmustbelievethat He is and [that] He is a rewarderof thosewho seekHim.
She madea vowand said,"O LORDof hosts,ifYou will indeedlookon the afflictionof Your maidservantand rememberme, and not forgetYour maidservant,but will giveYour maidservanta son,then I will givehim to the LORDallthe daysof his life,and a razorshall nevercomeon his head."
"He inquiredof the LORDfor him, gavehim provisions,and gavehim the swordof Goliaththe Philistine."
Davidinquiredof the LORD,saying,"Shall I pursuethisband?Shall I overtakethem?" And He saidto him, "Pursue,for you will surelyovertakethem, and you will surelyrescue[all]."
