1 Kings 8:46–53

⁴⁶“They may sin against you. 

(No one is sinless.) 

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. 

⁴⁷If 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,’ 

⁴⁸if they change their attitude toward you 

in the land of their enemies 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, 

⁴⁹then in heaven, the place where you live, hear their prayer for mercy. 

Do what is right for them. 

⁵⁰Forgive your people, who have sinned against you. 

⸤Forgive⸥ all their wrongs when they rebelled against you, 

and cause those who captured them to have mercy on them 

⁵¹because they are your own people 

whom you brought out of Egypt 

from the middle of an iron smelter. 

⁵²“May your eyes always see my plea and your people Israel’s plea 

so that you will listen to them whenever they call on you. 

⁵³After all, you, Lord God, set them apart from all the people of the world 

to be your own as you promised through your servant Moses 

when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”