2Ch 6:26-27 | NET2full | STEP | “The time will come when the skies are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place , renew their allegiance to you, and turn away from their sin because you punish them,

‏ 2 Chronicles 6:26-27

26 “The time will come when ^{▼▼tn Heb “when.” In the Hebrew text vv. 26-27a actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided into two sentences for stylistic reasons.} the skies ^{▼▼tn Or “heavens” (also in v. 12). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.} are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people ^{▼▼tn Heb “they.”} sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place, renew their allegiance to you, ^{▼▼tn Heb “confess [or perhaps, “praise”] your name.”} and turn away from their sin because you punish ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew text reads “because you answer them,” as if the verb is from עָנָה (ʿanah, “answer”). However, this reference to a divine answer is premature, since the next verse asks for God to intervene in mercy. It is better to revocalize the consonantal text as תְעַנֵּם (teʿannem, “you afflict them”), a Piel verb form from the homonym עָנָה (“afflict”).} them, 27 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly ^{▼▼tn The present translation understands כִּי (ki) in an emphatic or asseverative sense (“Certainly”). Other translations have “indeed” (NASB), “when” (NRSV), “so” (NEB), or leave the word untranslated (NIV).} you will then teach them the right way to live ^{▼▼tn Heb “the good way in which they should walk.”} and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess. ^{▼▼tn Or “for an inheritance.”}