Daniel 9:18 (WEB)

Passage

My God, turn your ear, and hear. Open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name; for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake.

Nearby Context

Daniel 9:16 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.

Daniel 9:17 “Now therefore, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant, and to his petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.

Daniel 9:18 My God, turn your ear, and hear. Open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name; for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake.

Daniel 9:19 Lord, hear. Lord, forgive. Lord, listen and do. Don’t defer, for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Daniel 9:20 While I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called", "turn", "hear", "open", "eyes", "desolations", "city", and "name". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "turn", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Now therefore our God listen to the..." into verse 19's "Lord hear Lord forgive Lord listen and...", so "called" and "turn" belong inside that flow. In Daniel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "called" and "turn" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.