The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
51 They are, after all, your people and your precious inheritance whom you rescued from the heart of that iron-smelting furnace, Egypt!
51
for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.
52 O be alert and attentive to the needy prayers of me, your servant, and your dear people Israel; listen every time they cry out to you!
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“May your eyes be open 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.
53 You handpicked them from all the peoples on earth to be your very own people, as you announced through your servant Moses when you, O God, in your masterful rule, delivered our ancestors from Egypt.
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For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign LORD, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”
54 Having finished praying to God - all these bold and passionate prayers - Solomon stood up before God's Altar where he had been kneeling all this time, his arms stretched upward to heaven.
54
When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.
55 Standing, he blessed the whole congregation of Israel, blessing them at the top of his lungs:
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He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:
56 "Blessed be God, who has given peace to his people Israel just as he said he'd do. Not one of all those good and wonderful words that he spoke through Moses has misfired.
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“Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.
57 May God, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors - may he never give up and walk out on us.
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May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us.
58 May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors.
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May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.
59 "And let these words that I've prayed in the presence of God be always right there before him, day and night, so that he'll do what is right for me, to guarantee justice for his people Israel day after day after day.
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And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need,
60 Then all the people on earth will know God is the true God; there is no other God.
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so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
61 And you, your lives must be totally obedient to God, our personal God, following the life path he has cleared, alert and attentive to everything he has made plain this day."
61
And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.