1 N ow Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always loved David.

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been a friend of David.

2 T hen Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

Then Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,

3 Y ou know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put his foes under the soles of his feet.

“You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

4 B ut now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.

But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.

5 A nd behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.”

Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’

6 N ow therefore, command that they cut down cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know there is none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.

Now therefore, command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

7 S o it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said, Blessed be the Lord this day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people!

When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.”

8 T hen Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have considered the message which you sent me, and I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs.

So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent me; I will do what you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber.

9 M y servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can take them away. And you shall fulfill my desire by giving food for my household.

My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place where you direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then you shall accomplish my desire by giving food to my household.”

10 T hen Hiram gave Solomon cedar and cypress logs according to all his desire.

So Hiram gave Solomon as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber.

11 A nd Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year.

Solomon then gave Hiram 20, 000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of beaten oil; thus Solomon would give Hiram year by year.

12 S o the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.

The Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant. Conscription of Laborers

13 T hen King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men.

Now King Solomon levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30, 000 men.

14 A nd he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the labor force.

He sent them to Lebanon, 10, 000 a month in relays; they were in Lebanon a month and two months at home. And Adoniram was over the forced laborers.

15 S olomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried stone in the mountains,

Now Solomon had 70, 000 transporters, and 80, 000 hewers of stone in the mountains,

16 b esides three thousand three hundred from the chiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work.

besides Solomon’s 3, 300 chief deputies who were over the project and who ruled over the people who were doing the work.

17 A nd the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple.

Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones.

18 S o Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried them; and they prepared timber and stones to build the temple.

So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.