Hear thou in heaven: See the comments at verses 30 and 32.
For sin see the comments at verse 34.
Regarding the phrase thy servants, thy people Israel, see the comments on the previous verse. Several times in chapter 8, Solomon refers to himself as “thy servant” (verses 28a, 28b, 29, 30, 52). Twice he refers to himself as “thy servant” and to the Israelites as “thy people Israel” in the same verse (30 and 52). In this verse Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text and gives two possible interpretations: (a) thy servants refers to future kings, as in verse 23, or (b) thy servants is parallel to thy people Israel. Good News Translation seems to be based on the first interpretation. The words “the king” mean “whatever king is then ruling.” Revised Standard Version is based on the second interpretation; compare also “they are your servants and your people” (Bible en français courant). Translators are free to follow either interpretation. They are, however, encouraged not to follow the Septuagint, which is the basis of the Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible translations (see the comments on verse 35).
When thou dost teach them the good way in which they should walk: When translates a Hebrew conjunction with a wide range of functions. Here it seems to express a temporal relationship, but it is not clear what the precise relationship in time is to the main verb forgive. Moffatt (also Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version) understands the conjunction here to express the same time as the main verb by saying “forgive the sin of thy servants and thy people Israel, as thou teachest them the good path for their life.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, however, understands this word to express time prior to the time of the main verb: “… after You have shown them the proper way in which they are to walk.”
The Hebrew conjunction rendered when may also introduce subordinate clauses that provide additional information. The following translation in New Jerusalem Bible seems to be based on this understanding of its use: “forgive the sin of your servant and your people Israel—for you are constantly showing them the good way which they must follow—and send rain….” It is also possible to understand the Hebrew conjunction as expressing emphasis. In that case the translation will be “surely you will teach them….”
The good way is an expression referring to proper behavior in general. For walk see the comments on 1 Kgs 2.4 and 3.3. For the good way in which they should walk, Good News Translation has “to do what is right.” New International Version says “the right way to live.”
Grant rain upon thy land: Grant rain is literally “give rain.” In some languages this will be most naturally translated by a causative verb form, such as “cause rain to fall.” Thy land refers to the land of Israel and not the earth in general.
Thou hast given to thy people as an inheritance: Elsewhere the Old Testament refers to the Promised Land as something that the people of Israel “inherit” (Exo 32.13; Josh 1.6). An inheritance is something that cannot be taken away. That is why Good News Translation says “a permanent possession.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .