Daniel 9:16
O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Daniel 9:16 · King James Version
Meaning
The verse presented here is a heartfelt plea to the Lord for forgiveness and mercy. The speaker acknowledges the righteousness of God and appeals to Him to turn away His anger and fury from the city of Jerusalem, which is deemed as His holy mountain. The speaker recognizes that the sins of the people and their ancestors have caused Jerusalem and its inhabitants to be disgraced in the eyes of those around them. In this prayer, the speaker is asking for God's compassion and forgiveness, acknowledging the collective responsibility of the people for their current predicament. By beseeching the Lord to show mercy and to remove His anger, the speaker is expressing a desire for redemption and restoration for Jerusalem and its people.
Theological Overview
One of the theological interpretations of this verse is that it reflects the idea of corporate responsibility and intergenerational consequences of sin. The plea for God's mercy on behalf of Jerusalem is grounded in the acknowledgement of the sins of the people and their ancestors. The concept of righteousness is emphasized here, as the psalmist appeals to God's own righteousness as the basis for forgiveness and restoration. By asking for God's anger and fury to be turned away, the psalmist is seeking reconciliation and deliverance for the city of Jerusalem and its people. This verse highlights the interconnectedness of the community and the importance of seeking forgiveness and mercy on behalf of others, recognizing the impact of sin on the collective whole. This plea for restoration emphasizes the need for repentance and dependence on God's righteousness for healing and redemption.
Daniel 9:16 in other translations
American Standard Version
O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, let thine anger and thy wrath, I pray thee, be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are round about us.
World English Bible
Lord, according to all your righteousness, let your anger and please let your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a reproach to all who are around us.
Douay-Rheims
O Lord, against all thy justice: let thy wrath and thy indignation be turned away, I beseech thee, from thy city, Jerusalem, and from thy holy mountain. For by reason of our sins, and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem, and thy people, are a reproach to all that are round about us.
Geneva Bible (1599)
O Lord, according to all thy righteousnes, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy wrath be turned away from thy citie Ierusalem thine holy Mountaine: for because of our sinnes, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Ierusalem and thy people are a reproche to all that are about vs.