⁴⁰ “But if ^(A)they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they ^(B)committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me,

^8 (A)If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and ^(B)the truth is not in us. ^9 (C)If we confess our sins, he is ^(D)faithful and just to forgive us our sins and ^(E)to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, ^(F)we make him a liar, and ^(G)his word is not in us.

^2 (A)And the Israelites^[a] separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. ^3 (B)And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. ⁴ On the stairs of the Levites stood ^(C)Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. ⁵ Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. ^(D)Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

^33 (A)“When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and ^(B)if they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, ³⁴ then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers.

^35 (C)“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, ³⁶ then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when ^(D)you teach them ^(E)the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

Repentance and Forgiveness

30 ^(A)“And ^(B)when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and ^(C)you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, ² and ^(D)return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, ³ then the Lord your God ^(E)will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will ^(F)gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.

^7 (A)he shall confess his sin that he has committed.^{[a] (B)}And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.

³¹ Then ^(A)you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.