2 Chronicles 6:20-42

NSB(i) 41 »Now arise, and come to your resting place, Jehovah our God, you and the ark of your power. Clothe your priests, Jehovah God, with salvation. Let your godly ones rejoice in what is good. 42 »O Jehovah our God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember your mercy to your servant David!« 20 »Day and night may your eyes be on this Temple, the place where you said your name will be. Listen to me as I pray toward this place. 21 »Hear the plea for mercy that your people Israel and I pray toward this place. Hear us in heaven, the place where you live. Hear and forgive. 22 »If anyone sins against another person and is required to take an oath and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple, 23 then hear that person in heaven, take action, and make a decision. Repay the guilty person with the proper punishment, but declare the innocent person innocent. 24 »An enemy may defeat your people Israel because they have sinned against you. But when your people return, praise your name, pray, and plead with you in this Temple, 25 then hear them in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land that you gave to them and their ancestors. 26 »When the sky is shut and there is no rain because they are sinning against you and they pray toward this place, praise your name, and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer, 27 then hear them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the proper way to live. Then send rain on the land, which you gave to your people as an inheritance. 28 »There may be famine in the land. Plant diseases, heat waves, funguses, locusts, or grasshoppers may destroy crops. Enemies may blockade Israel’s city gates. During every plague or sickness 29 hear every prayer for mercy made by one person or by all the people in Israel, all who know suffering or pain, who stretch out their hands toward this Temple. 30 »Hear them in heaven, where you live. Forgive them and give people the proper reply. You know what is in their hearts, because you alone can read hearts. 31 as long as they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors, they will reverence you and follow you. 32 »People who are not Israelites will come from distant countries because of your great name, mighty hand, and powerful arm. When they come to pray facing this Temple, 33 then hear them in heaven, the place where you live. Do everything they ask so that all the people of the world may know your name and respect you like your people Israel and learn that this Temple that I built bears your name. 34 »When your people go to war against their enemies, you send them and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the Temple I built for your name, 35 then hear their prayer for mercy in heaven, and do what is right for them. 36 »They may sin against you. There is no man who is without sin. You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them to another country as captives, whether it is far or near. 37 »If they come to their senses, are sorry for what they’ve done, and plead with you in the land where they are captives, saying: We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have been wicked. 38 »If they change their attitude toward you in the land where they are captives. If they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the Temple I have built for your name, 39 then in heaven, the place where you live, hear their prayer for mercy. Do what is right for them. Forgive your people, who have sinned against you. 40 »Finally, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.