47. In that faraway land, your people will think about what happened. They will be sorry for their sins, and they will pray to you. They will say, ‘We have sinned and done wrong.’
48. They will be in that faraway land of their enemies, but they will turn back to you. They will feel sorry for their sins with their whole heart and soul. They will turn toward the land you gave their ancestors. They will look toward the city you chose and toward the Temple I built, and they will pray to you.
49. Please listen to their prayers from your home in heaven, and do what is right.
50. Forgive your sinful people for all the things they have done against you. Make their enemies be kind to them.
51. Remember that they are your people and that you brought them out of Egypt. It was as if you saved them by pulling them out of a hot oven!
52. “Please listen to my prayers and to the prayers of your people Israel. Listen to their prayers any time that they ask you for help.
53. You have chosen them from all the peoples of the earth to be your own special people. Lord GOD, you promised to do that for us. You used your servant Moses to make that promise when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”
54. When Solomon prayed this prayer to the Lord, he was on his knees in front of the Lord’S altar and his arms were raised toward heaven. When he finished praying, he stood up.
55. Then, in a loud voice, he asked God to bless all the people of Israel. Solomon said,
56. “Praise the Lord! He promised to give rest to his people, Israel. And he has given us rest! He used his servant Moses and made many good promises to the people of Israel. And he has kept every one of them!
57. I pray that the Lord our God will be with us, as he was with our ancestors. I pray that he will never leave us.
58. I pray that we will turn to him and follow him. Then we will obey all the laws, decisions, and commands that he gave our ancestors.
59. I pray that the Lord our God will always remember this prayer and what I have asked. I pray that he will do these things for his servant, the king, and for his people, Israel. I pray that he will do this every day.
60. If he will do these things, all the people of the world will know that the Lord is the only true God.
61. You people must be loyal and true to the Lord our God. You must always follow and obey all of his laws and commands. You must continue to obey in the future as you do now.”
62. Then King Solomon and all the Israelites with him offered sacrifices to the Lord.