9:17 “So now, our God, accept 1 the prayer and requests of your servant, and show favor to 2 your devastated sanctuary for your own sake. 3 9:18 Listen attentively, 4 my God, and hear! Open your eyes and look on our desolated ruins 5 and the city called by your name. 6 For it is not because of our own righteous deeds that we are praying to you, 7 but because your compassion is abundant.
1 tn Heb “hear.” Here the verb refers to hearing favorably, accepting the prayer and responding positively.
2 tn Heb “let your face shine.” This idiom pictures God smiling in favor. See Pss 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19.
3 tn Heb “for the sake of my Lord.” Theodotion has “for your sake.” Cf. v. 19.
4 tn Heb “turn your ear.”
5 tn Heb “desolations.” The term refers here to the ruined condition of Judah’s towns.
6 tn Heb “over which your name is called.” Cf. v. 19. This expression implies that God is the owner of his city, Jerusalem. Note the use of the idiom in 2 Sam 12:28; Isa 4:1; Amos 9:12.
7 tn Heb “praying our supplications before you.”