2 Chronicles 7:13-15

7:13 When ¹  I close up the sky ²  so that it doesn’t rain, or command locusts to devour the land’s vegetation, ³  or send a plague among my people, 7:14 if my people, who belong to me, ⁴  humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, ⁵  and repudiate their sinful practices, ⁶  then I will respond ⁷  from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. ⁸  7:15 Now I will be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place. ⁹ 

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¹ tn Or “if.”

² tn Or “heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.

³ tn Heb “the land,” which stands here by metonymy for the vegetation growing in it.

⁴ tn Heb “over whom my name is called.” The Hebrew idiom “call the name over” indicates ownership. See 2 Sam 12:28.

⁵ tn Heb “seek my face,” where “my face” is figurative for God’s presence and acceptance.

⁶ tn Heb “and turn from their sinful ways.”

⁷ tn Heb “hear.”

⁸ sn Here the phrase heal their land means restore the damage done by the drought, locusts and plague mentioned in v. 13.

⁹ tn Heb “my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer of this place.” Note Solomon’s request in 6:40.