Old Testament

New Testament

1 Kings 8:33-50 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

33. When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy,because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and praise Your name,and they pray and plead with Youfor mercy in this temple,

34. may You hear in heavenand forgive the sin of Your people Israel.May You restore them to the landYou gave their ancestors.

35. When the skies are shut and there is no rain,because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this placeand praise Your name,and they turn from their sinsbecause You are afflicting them,

36. may You hear in heavenand forgive the sin of Your servantsand Your people Israel,so that You may teach them the good waythey should walk in. May You send rain on Your landthat You gave Your people for an inheritance.

37. When there is famine on the earth,when there is pestilence,when there is blight, mildew, locust, or grasshopper, when their enemy besieges themin the region of their fortified cities, when there is any plague or illness,

38. whatever prayer or petitionanyone from Your people Israel might have —each man knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple —

39. may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,and may You forgive, act, and repay the man,according to all his ways, since You know his heart,for You alone know every human heart,

40. so that they may fear Youall the days they live on the land You gave our ancestors.

41. Even for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israelbut has come from a distant land because of Your name —

42. for they will hear of Your great name,mighty hand, and outstretched arm,and will come and pray toward this temple —

43. may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,and do according to all the foreigner asks You for.Then all the people on earth will know Your name,to fear You as Your people Israel doand know that this temple I have builtis called by Your name.

44. When Your people go out to fight against their enemies, wherever You send them,and they pray to Yahwehin the direction of the city You have chosen and the temple I have built for Your name,

45. may You hear their prayer and petition in heavenand uphold their cause.

46. When they sin against You —for there is no one who does not sin —and You are angry with themand hand them over to the enemy,and their captors deport them to the enemy’s country —whether distant or nearby —

47. and when they come to their senses in the land where they were deportedand repent and petition You in their captors’ land:“We have sinned and done wrong;we have been wicked,”

48. and when they return to You with their whole mind and heartin the land of their enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of their landthat You gave their ancestors,the city You have chosen, and the temple I have built for Your name,

49. may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,their prayer and petition and uphold their cause.

50. May You forgive Your peoplewho sinned against Youand all their rebellions against You,and may You give them compassionin the eyes of their captors,so that they may be compassionate to them.

Read complete chapter 1 Kings 8