16. You promised that someone from his family would always be king of Israel, if they do their best to obey you, just as he did.
17. Please keep this promise you made to your servant David.
18. There's not enough room in all of heaven for you, Lord God. How could you possibly live on earth in this temple I have built?
19. But I ask you to answer my prayer.
20. This is the temple where you have chosen to be worshipped. Please watch over it day and night and listen when I turn towards it and pray.
21. I am your servant, and the people of Israel belong to you, and so whenever any of us look towards this temple and pray, answer from your home in heaven and forgive our sins.
22. 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!”
23. Listen from heaven and decide who is right. Then punish the guilty person and let the innocent one go free.
24. Suppose your people Israel sin against you, and then an enemy defeats them. If they come to this temple and beg for forgiveness,
25. listen from your home in heaven. Forgive them and bring them back to the land you gave their ancestors.
26. Suppose your people sin against you, and you punish them by holding back the rain. If they stop sinning and turn towards this temple to pray in your name,
27. listen from your home in heaven and forgive them. The people of Israel are your servants, so teach them to live right. And send rain on the land you promised them for ever.
28. 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.
29. Please listen when anyone in Israel truly feels sorry and sincerely prays with arms lifted towards your temple.
30. You know what is in everyone's heart. So from your home in heaven answer their prayers, according to what they do and what is in their hearts.
31. Then your people will worship you and obey you for as long as they live in the land you gave their ancestors.
32. 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,
33. listen from your home in heaven and answer their prayers. Then everyone on earth will worship you, just as your own people Israel do, and they will know that I have built this temple in your honour.