⁸ How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear^(A) your wisdom!

³¹ The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom;^(A) and now something greater than Solomon is here.

²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God^(A) and obey it.”^(B)

³⁹ She had a sister called Mary,^(A) who sat at the Lord’s feet^(B) listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care^(C) that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried^(D) and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a](E) Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

⁷ How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! ⁸ Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne^(A) as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king^(B) over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”