Old Testament

New Testament

1 Kings 8:31-43 Contemporary English Version Anglicised (CEVUK00)

31. Suppose someone accuses a person of a crime, and the accused has to stand in front of the altar in your temple and say, “I swear I am innocent!”

32. Listen from heaven and decide who is right. Then punish the guilty person and let the innocent one go free.

33. Suppose your people Israel sin against you, and then an enemy defeats them. If they come to this temple and beg for forgiveness,

34. listen from your home in heaven. Forgive them and bring them back to the land you gave their ancestors.

35. Suppose your people sin against you, and you punish them by holding back the rain. If they turn towards this temple and pray in your name and stop sinning,

36. listen from your home in heaven and forgive them. The people of Israel are your servants, so teach them to live right. And please send rain on the land you promised them for ever.

37. Sometimes the crops may dry up or rot or be eaten by locusts or grasshoppers, and your people will be starving. Sometimes enemies may surround their towns, or your people will become sick with deadly diseases.

38. Listen when anyone in Israel truly feels sorry and sincerely prays with arms lifted towards your temple.

39. You know what is in everyone's heart. So from your home in heaven answer their prayers, according to the way they live and what is in their hearts.

40. Then your people will worship and obey you for as long as they live in the land you gave their ancestors.

41-42. Foreigners will hear about you and your mighty power, and some of them will come to live among your people Israel. If any of them pray towards this temple,

43. listen from your home in heaven and answer their prayers. Then everyone on earth will worship you, just like your people Israel, and they will know that I have built this temple to honour you.

Read complete chapter 1 Kings 8