2 Chronicles 6:23
New International Version
then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.

New Living Translation
then hear from heaven and judge between your servants—the accuser and the accused. Pay back the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.

English Standard Version
then hear from heaven and act and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

Berean Standard Bible
then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

King James Bible
Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

New King James Version
then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

New American Standard Bible
then hear from heaven and take action and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by repaying him according to his righteousness.

NASB 1995
then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

NASB 1977
then hear Thou from heaven and act and judge Thy servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

Legacy Standard Bible
then listen from heaven and act and judge Your slaves, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by bringing him reward according to his righteousness.

Amplified Bible
then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his conduct on his own head, and providing justice to the righteous by giving to him in accordance with his righteousness (innocence).

Christian Standard Bible
may you hear in heaven and act. May you judge your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing what he has done on his own head and providing justice for the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
may You hear in heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing what he has done on his own head and providing justice for the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

American Standard Version
then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, requiting the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

Contemporary English Version
Listen from heaven and decide who is right. Then punish the guilty person and let the innocent one go free.

English Revised Version
then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, requiting the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
then hear [that person] in heaven, take action, and make a decision. Repay the guilty person with the proper punishment, but declare the innocent person innocent.

Good News Translation
O LORD, listen in heaven and judge your servants. Punish the guilty ones as they deserve and acquit the innocent.

International Standard Version
then listen from heaven, act, and judge your servants, recompensing the wicked by bringing back to him the consequences of his choices and by justifying the righteous by recompensing him according to his righteousness.

Majority Standard Bible
then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

NET Bible
listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants' claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.

New Heart English Bible
then hear from heaven, and do, and judge your servants, bringing retribution to the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

World English Bible
then hear from heaven, act, and judge your servants, bringing retribution to the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
then You hear from the heavens, and have done, and have judged Your servants, to give back to the wicked, to put his way on his head, and to declare righteous the righteous, to give to him according to his righteousness.

Young's Literal Translation
then Thou dost hear from the heavens, and hast done, and hast judged Thy servants, to give back to the wicked, to put his way on his head, and to declare righteous the righteous, to give to him according to his righteousness.

Smith's Literal Translation
And wilt thou hear from the heavens, and do, and judge thy servants, to turn back to the unjust to give his way upon his head: and to justify the just one by giving to him according to his justice.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then hear thou from heaven, and do justice to thy servants, so as to requite the wicked by making his wickedness fall upon his own head, and to revenge the just, rewarding him according to his justice.

Catholic Public Domain Version
you will hear him from heaven, and you will execute justice for your servants, so that you return, to the iniquitous man, his own way upon his own head, and so that you vindicate the just man, repaying him according to his own justice.

New American Bible
listen in heaven: act and judge your servants. Condemn the wicked, requiting their ways; acquit the just, rewarding their justice.

New Revised Standard Version
may you hear from heaven, and act, and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing their conduct on their own head, and vindicating those who are in the right by rewarding them in accordance with their righteousness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then hear thou his prayer, even from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by bringing his guilt upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you will hear the voice of their prayer from your place from Heaven, and you will work and you will judge your Servants to condemn the guilty and to put his way on his head, and to vindicate the righteous and to give to him according to his righteousness
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
then hear Thou from heaven, and do, and judge Thy servants, requiting the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
then shalt thou hearken out of heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, to recompense the transgressor, and to return his ways upon his head: and to justify the righteous, to recompense him according to his righteousness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
22When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple, 23then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness. 24When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading before You in this temple,…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 25:1
If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.

1 Kings 8:32
then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

Psalm 7:8-9
The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity. / Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.

Proverbs 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

Isaiah 3:10-11
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. / Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

Jeremiah 11:20
O LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously, who examines the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.

Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Ezekiel 18:30
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.

Romans 2:6-11
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” / To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. / But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. ...

Romans 14:10-12
Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. / It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” / So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. / Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Revelation 2:23
Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.


Treasury of Scripture

Then hear you from heaven, and do, and judge your servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way on his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

from heaven

2 Chronicles 6:21
Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

requiting

Numbers 5:27
And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.

2 Kings 9:26
Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.

Psalm 10:14
Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

justifying

Deuteronomy 25:1
If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

Proverbs 17:15
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

Isaiah 3:10
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

Jump to Previous
Act Conduct Decision Declare Ear Establish Guilty Head Hear Heaven Innocent Judge Judged Justifying Keeping Open Punishing Punishment Recompensing Repaying Requiting Retribution Rewarding Righteous Righteousness Servants Vindicating Way Wicked Wrong Wrongdoer
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Act Conduct Decision Declare Ear Establish Guilty Head Hear Heaven Innocent Judge Judged Justifying Keeping Open Punishing Punishment Recompensing Repaying Requiting Retribution Rewarding Righteous Righteousness Servants Vindicating Way Wicked Wrong Wrongdoer
2 Chronicles 6
1. Solomon, having blessed the people, blessed God
12. Solomon's prayer in the consecration of the temple, upon the bronze platform.














then may You hear from heaven and act.
This phrase emphasizes the belief in God's omnipresence and His ability to hear prayers from His heavenly abode. It reflects the understanding that God is not confined to the earthly temple but resides in heaven, a concept consistent with Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:30. The request for God to "act" underscores the expectation of divine intervention in human affairs, a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, where God is seen as actively involved in the lives of His people.

May You judge Your servants,
The term "judge" here implies a call for divine justice. In the ancient Near Eastern context, kings often served as judges, and Solomon, as king, is appealing to God as the ultimate judge. This reflects the biblical principle that God is the righteous judge of all the earth, as seen in Genesis 18:25. The phrase also highlights the covenant relationship between God and His people, where they are His "servants."

condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done,
This part of the verse speaks to the principle of retributive justice, where the wicked receive consequences for their actions. It aligns with the biblical concept of "measure for measure" justice, as seen in passages like Proverbs 26:27 and Galatians 6:7. The imagery of bringing down on one's own head suggests a personal and direct consequence for sin, reinforcing the idea that God’s justice is both fair and inevitable.

and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
Here, the focus shifts to the vindication and reward of the righteous. This reflects the biblical theme of divine reward for faithfulness, as seen in Psalm 18:20 and Matthew 5:12. The concept of justification is central to Christian theology, prefiguring the New Testament teaching on justification by faith. The phrase underscores the belief that God recognizes and rewards righteousness, a principle that finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who embodies perfect righteousness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The king of Israel who is offering a prayer of dedication for the newly built temple in Jerusalem. He is seeking God's presence and justice.

2. God
The ultimate judge who Solomon is appealing to for justice and righteousness.

3. The Temple in Jerusalem
The central place of worship for the Israelites, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people.

4. The Wicked Man
Represents those who act unjustly and are deserving of God's judgment.

5. The Righteous Man
Represents those who live according to God's laws and are deserving of vindication and reward.
Teaching Points
God as the Ultimate Judge
We are reminded that God is the ultimate judge who sees all actions and intentions. We can trust Him to bring justice in His perfect timing.

The Role of Prayer in Seeking Justice
Solomon's prayer demonstrates the importance of seeking God's intervention in matters of justice. We should be diligent in prayer, asking God to act according to His righteousness.

Righteousness and Reward
Living a righteous life according to God's standards brings His favor and reward. Our actions should reflect our faith and commitment to God's laws.

The Consequences of Wickedness
The wicked will face consequences for their actions. This serves as a warning to turn away from sin and seek God's forgiveness and guidance.

Trusting God's Justice
In a world where justice can seem elusive, we are encouraged to trust in God's perfect justice, knowing that He will ultimately set things right.(23) From heaven.--In Kings we have not the preposition. Perhaps the meaning there is "to heaven," as in 2Chronicles 6:30. The chronicler has substituted a more ordinary expression, which, indeed, is found in all the versions of Kings. Similarly in 2Chronicles 6:25; 2Chronicles 6:30; 2Chronicles 6:33; 2Chronicles 6:35; 2Chronicles 6:39. . . . Verse 23. - The prayer is that God will command his blessing on the oath ordeal.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
may You
וְאַתָּ֣ה ׀ (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

hear
תִּשְׁמַ֣ע (tiš·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

heaven
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and act.
וְעָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ (wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

May You judge
וְשָׁפַטְתָּ֣ (wə·šā·p̄aṭ·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

Your servants,
עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

condemning
לְהָשִׁ֣יב (lə·hā·šîḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

the wicked man
לְרָשָׁ֔ע (lə·rā·šā‘)
Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

by bringing
לָתֵ֥ת (lā·ṯêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

down on his own head
בְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹ (bə·rō·šōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head

what he has done,
דַּרְכּ֖וֹ (dar·kōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and justifying
וּלְהַצְדִּ֣יק (ū·lə·haṣ·dîq)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous

the righteous man
צַדִּ֔יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

by rewarding
לָ֥תֶת (lā·ṯeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

him
ל֖וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

according to his righteousness.
כְּצִדְקָתֽוֹ׃ (kə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯōw)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 6:23 Then hear from heaven and do (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 6:22
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