2 Chronicles 6:26–39

²⁶“When the sky is shut and there’s 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, 

²⁷then 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. 

³⁰Hear ⸤them⸥ in heaven, where you live. 

Forgive ⸤them⸥, and give each person the proper reply. 

(You know what is in their hearts, 

because you alone know what is in people’s hearts.) 

³¹Then, as long as they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors, 

they will fear 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, 

³³then hear ⸤them⸥ in heaven, the place where you live. 

Do everything they ask you 

so that all the people of the world may know your name 

and fear you like your people Israel 

and learn that this temple which I built bears your name. 

³⁴“When your people go to war against their enemies 

(wherever you may send them) 

and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen 

and the temple I built for your name, 

³⁵then hear their prayer for mercy in heaven, 

and do what is right ⸤for them⸥. 

³⁶“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. 

³⁷If 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,’ 

³⁸if 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, 

³⁹then 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.