³⁷ but if they repent^[a] in the land where they were taken captive and repent^[b] and beg you for mercy in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned and acted perversely and done wickedly, ³⁸ and we return to you,’ with their whole heart and with all their inmost being in the land of their captivity where they took them captive, and if they pray toward their land that you have given to their ancestors^[c] and the city that you have chosen and to the house that I have built for your name, ³⁹ then may you hear their prayer and their pleas from the heavens, from your dwelling place, and uphold their case and forgive your people who sinned against you.