20. Day and night may your eyes be on this temple,the place about which you said your name will be there.Listen to me as I pray toward this place.
21. Hear the plea for mercythat your people Israel and I pray toward this place.Hear us in heaven, the place where you live.Hear and forgive.
22. “If anyone sins against another personand is required to take an oathand comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,
23. then hear ⌊that person⌋ in heaven, take action, and make a decision.Repay the guilty person with the proper punishment,but declare the innocent person innocent.
24. “An enemy may defeat your people Israelbecause they have sinned against you.But when your people turn, praise your name, pray,and plead with you in this temple,
25. then hear ⌊them⌋ in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel,and bring them back to the landthat you gave to them and their ancestors.
26. “When the sky is shut and there’s no rainbecause they are sinning against youand they pray toward this place, praise your name,and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer,
27. then 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 mercymade by one person or by all the people in Israel,all who know suffering or pain,who stretch out their hands toward this temple.
30. Hear ⌊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.)
31. Then, as long as they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors,they will fear you and follow you.