Daniel 9:17-18

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.

[9:17]  ¹ tn Heb “hear.” Here the verb refers to hearing favorably, accepting the prayer and responding positively.

[9:17]  ² tn Heb “let your face shine.” This idiom pictures God smiling in favor. See Pss 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19.

[9:17]  ³ tn Heb “for the sake of my Lord.” Theodotion has “for your sake.” Cf. v. 19.

[9:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “turn your ear.”

[9:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “desolations.” The term refers here to the ruined condition of Judah’s towns.

[9:18]  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.

[9:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “praying our supplications before you.”