⁷ And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with ^(A)walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God. We have sought him, ^(B)and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered.

⁶ He built ^(A)fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, ^(B)for the Lord gave him peace.

³⁵ So Jesus said to them, ^(A)“The light is among you ^(B)for a little while longer. ^(C)Walk while you have the light, lest darkness ^(D)overtake you. ^(E)The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become ^(F)sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

^12 (A)Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, ^(B)and I will hear you. ^13 (C)You will seek me and find me, when you seek me ^(D)with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you, declares the Lord, ^(E)and I will restore your fortunes and ^(F)gather you from all the nations and all the places ^(G)where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

David's Charge to Solomon

⁹ “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a ^(A)whole heart and with a willing mind, ^(B)for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. ^(C)If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

¹³ But ^(A)exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by ^(B)the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have come to share in Christ, ^(C)if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. ¹⁵ As it is said,

³¹ So ^(A)the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And ^(B)walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, ^(C)it multiplied.

⁴ We must ^(A)work the works of him who sent me ^(B)while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.