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11 They chanted praise and offered thanksgiving to the Lord, singing:

“The Lord is good,
    and everlasting is his faithful love toward Israel.”

Then all the people raised a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord had been laid.[a]

12 However, many of the priests and Levites and heads of families, elderly people who had seen the former house, wept loudly in sorrow when they beheld the foundations of this one, although many others shouted aloud for joy. 13 As a result, the people were unable to distinguish the clamor of the joyful shouts from the cries of those who were weeping. So great were the shouts and the cries that the sounds could be heard a long distance away.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 3:11 See the psalms of thanksgiving (e.g., the whole of Ps 136).

11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:

“He is good;
    his love toward Israel endures forever.”(A)

And all the people gave a great shout(B) of praise to the Lord, because the foundation(C) of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple,(D) wept(E) aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy(F) from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

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