22 Then Shelomoh stood between Yahweh’s altar and all the gathered Israelis, and held his arms up towards the sky 23 and prayed, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, there’s no God like you in the heavens above or here on the earth below, keeping the agreement and showing loyal affection to your servants, the ones who serve you with honest devotion. 24 You have done what you told your servant David, my father, that you said you’d do—you said it with your mouth and then put it into action with your hands as we can see today. 25 Now, Yahweh, the God of Israel, do the other things for your servant David my father, when you told him that there’ll always be one of his descendants on Israel’s throne, provided they follow you like he did.[ref] 26 So now, God of Israel, show that you’re faithful to do what you say, by doing what you told your servant David, my father.

27 “But would God really reside on the earth? The sky and the heavens aren’t big enough for you so how could this building I’ve constructed contain you?[ref] 28 But still, please give attention to your servant’s prayer and my request for favour, Yahweh my God. Please listen to my humble prayer that your servant is praying to you today 29 that your eyes be on this house night and day—the place that you’ve said will be associated with your name. May you answer the prayers that your servant will pray towards this place.[ref] 30 Listen to your servant’s plea for favour, and the prayers that your people Israel will pray toward this place. Keep listening from where you live in the heavens, and hear and forgive.

31 “When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbour and says on oath that the accusation is false, and makes that oath in front of your altar here in this temple, 32 then you should listen from the heavens and judge your people Israel, so that wicked people will be condemned and bear the appropriate punishment, and innocent people should be declared not guilty and dealt with appropriately.

33 When your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they’ve sinned against you, and they turn back to you and confess your name and pray, and plead for favour toward you in this temple, 34 then you should listen from the heavens and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to this land that you gave to our ancestors.

35 “Or when the rain is held back in the sky because your people have sinned against you, and then they pray towards this place and acknowledge you and turn away from the disobedience that caused the problem, 36 then listen to them from the heavens and forgive the sin of your servants and your people Israel, because you’ll direct them towards the right way to conduct themselves. Then you’ll send rain onto your land that you gave to your people as an inheritance.

37 “Suppose that there was a drought in the land, or diseases like blight or mildew, or swarms of locusts or grasshoppers, or if an enemy besieges them in a gated city, or some other trouble or calamity, 38 then if anyone from your people Israel who knows about their own disobedience would spread out their palms toward this temple, 39 then listen to them from your heavenly abode and forgive their sin, and give them what they need. You and you alone are the only one who knows what’s inside a human heart. 40 Then the people will want to obey you as long as they’re alive here in the land that you gave to our ancestors.

41 “Also the foreigners who’re not descendants of Israel and who came from distant countries because of your reputation 42 (when they heard about your nature and saw your power in action), and they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then listen to them from your abode in the heavens and do what that foreigner begged of you, so that all the countries will know your reputation and respect you like your people Israel do. Then they’ll know that your authority is connected with this residence that I’ve built.

44 “When your people go out to battle against the enemy, and on the road where you sent them they pray to you Yahweh, in this city that you’ve chosen, with this house that I’ve built for your honour, 45 Then listen from the heavens to their prayer and their request, and help their situation.

46 “If they disobey you (because everyone sins) and you’re angry with them and cause them to be defeated by their enemies, and then they get taken prisoner and led away to the enemy’s country (even a far away country), 47 and then they have a change of mind in the land where they were taken to as captives, and while they’re still living in that land, they turn back and beg for your favour and confess, ‘We’ve disobey and done wrong—we’ve behaved wickedly,’ 48 and they return to you with all their hearts and all their souls in the land of their enemies where they were taken captive, and they pray to you toward the direction of their country which you gave to their fathers, the city that you chose, and the residence that I’ve built for your honour, 49 ◙ 50 ◙ 51 ◙

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