1 Kings 8:37-53

New International Version

³⁷ “When famine^(A) or plague^(B) comes to the land, or blight^(C) or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers,^(D) or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, ³⁸ and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands^(E) toward this temple— ³⁹ then hear^(F) from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive^(G) and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know^(H) their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), ⁴⁰ so that they will fear^(I) you all the time they live in the land^(J) you gave our ancestors.

⁴¹ “As for the foreigner^(K) who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— ⁴² for they will hear^(L) of your great name and your mighty hand^(M) and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, ⁴³ then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know^(N) your name and fear^(O) you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.^(P)

⁴⁴ “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray^(Q) to the Lord toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, ⁴⁵ then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.^(R)

⁴⁶ “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin^(S)—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive^(T) to their own lands, far away or near; ⁴⁷ and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead^(U) with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’;^{(V) 48} and if they turn back^(W) to you with all their heart^(X) and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray^(Y) to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple^(Z) I have built for your Name;^{(AA) 49} then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. ⁵⁰ And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy;^{(AB) 51} for they are your people and your inheritance,^(AC) whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.^(AD)

⁵² “May your eyes be open^(AE) to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you.^{(AF) 53} For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance,^(AG) just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”