1 Kings 8:32

30 Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

31 When 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,

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.

33 When 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 with You in this temple,

34 then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to their fathers.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
WEB
then hear in heaven, and act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
ASV
then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
DARBY
then hear thou in the heavens, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head; and justifying the righteous, giving him according to his righteousness.
BLB
then may You hear in the heavens and act and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving to him according to his righteousness.
ÅB
så vil du høre i himmelen og gripe inn og hjelpe dine tjenere til deres rett, så du dømmer den skyldige skyldig og lar hans gjerninger komme over hans eget hode, og dømmer den rettferdige rettferdig og lar ham få etter sin rettferdighet.
OTB
da hør i himmelen og handle, dømme Dine tjenere, dømme den onde ved å bringe hans vei over hans eget hode, og rettferdiggjøre den rettferdige ved å gi ham etter hans rettferdighet.
B1930
så vil du høre i himmelen og gripe inn og hjelpe dine tjenere til deres rett, så du dømmer den skyldige skyldig og lar hans gjerninger komme over hans eget hode, og dømmer den rettferdige rettferdig og lar ham få efter sin rettferdighet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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.

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  • Romans 2:6–10

    God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 18:13

    He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 3:10–11

    Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 18:20

    The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 34:7

    maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

    Read in context
  • Exodus 23:7

    Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context