1 N ow Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion.

Then King Solomon gathered together the leaders of Israel in front of him in Jerusalem. He gathered together all the heads of the families and the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the sons of Israel. They gathered to bring up the Lord’s special box of the agreement from Zion the city of David.

2 T herefore all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month.

All the men of Israel gathered to King Solomon at the special supper in the seventh month, Ethanim.

3 S o all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

All the leaders of Israel came, and the religious leaders took up the Lord’s special box of the agreement.

4 T hen they brought up the ark of the Lord, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up.

They brought up the Lord’s special box of the agreement, the meeting tent, and all the holy objects which were in the tent. The religious leaders and the Levites brought them up.

5 A lso King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.

King Solomon and all the people of Israel, who were gathered to him, were with him in front of the special box. They killed so many sheep and cattle on the altar that their number could not be known.

6 T hen the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim.

Then the religious leaders brought the Lord’s special box of the agreement to its place. They brought it into the most holy place of the house, under the wings of the cherubim.

7 F or the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.

The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the special box. The cherubim made a covering above the special box and its special pieces of wood used for carrying.

8 T he poles extended so that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day.

The carrying pieces were so long that the ends of them could be seen from the holy place in front of the most holy place. But they could not be seen from outside. They are there to this day.

9 N othing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

There was nothing in the special box except the two stone writings which Moses put there at Horeb. There the Lord had made an agreement with the people of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt.

10 A nd it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,

When the religious leaders came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord.

11 s o that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

So the religious leaders were not able to stand there to do their work because of the cloud. For the shining-greatness of the Lord filled the Lord’s house.

12 T hen Solomon spoke: “The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would live in the thick cloud.

13 I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever.” Solomon’s Speech at Completion of the Work

I have built You an honored house, a place for You to live forever.” Solomon’s Words to the People

14 T hen the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.

Then the king turned around and prayed that good would come to all the people of Israel, while all the people of Israel stood.

15 A nd he said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying,

He said, “Thanks be to the Lord, the God of Israel. He spoke with His mouth to my father David. And He has kept His promise with His hand, saying,

16 ‘ Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there; but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’

’Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I did not choose a city of all the families of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there. But I chose David to be king over My people Israel.’

17 N ow it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

18 B ut the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

19 N evertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’

But you will not build the house. Your son who will be born to you will build the house for My name.’

20 S o the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

Now the Lord has kept His promise which He made. For I have taken my father David’s place and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. And I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

21 A nd there I have made a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.” Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

There I have made a place for the special box in which is the agreement of the Lord. He made it when He brought them from the land of Egypt.” Solomon’s Prayer

22 T hen Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord. And in front of all the people of Israel he lifted his hands toward heaven.

23 a nd he said: “ Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below. You are keeping Your agreement and are showing loving-kindness to Your servants who walk in Your ways with all their heart.

24 Y ou have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.

You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. Yes, You have spoken with Your mouth, and have done it with Your hand, as it is this day.

25 T herefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.’

So now, O Lord, God of Israel, keep Your promise to my father David when You said to him, ‘You will not be without a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful to walk in My ways as you have walked.’

26 A nd now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.

O God of Israel, let Your Word be made sure, which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.

27 “ But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!

“But is it true that God will live on the earth? See, heaven and the highest heaven are not big enough to hold You. How much less this house which I have built!

28 Y et regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today:

But keep in mind the prayer of Your servant, O Lord my God. Listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays to You today.

29 t hat Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.

Open Your eyes night and day toward this house, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name will be there.’ Listen to the prayer Your servant will pray toward this place.

30 A nd may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.

Listen to the prayer of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven where You live. Hear and forgive.

31 “ When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple,

“If a man sins against his neighbor and has to make a promise, and he comes and makes a promise at Your altar in this house,

32 t hen hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

then hear in heaven and act. Judge Your servants. Punish the guilty forever by bringing his actions upon his own head, and free from guilt the one who is right and good, by returning his good to him.

33 “ When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple,

“When Your people Israel do not win in battle over those who hate them, because they have sinned against You, but if they turn to You again and call on Your name and pray to You in this house,

34 t hen hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.

then hear in heaven. Forgive the sin of Your people Israel. And return them to the land You gave to their fathers.

35 “ When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them,

“When the heavens are shut up and give no rain because they have sinned against You, if they pray toward this place and call on Your name and turn from their sin when You bring trouble to them,

36 t hen hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

then hear in heaven. Forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel. Teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people.

37 “ When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;

“If there is no food in the land, if there is a bad sickness, if there are diseases or locusts or grasshoppers that kill the plants, if the armies of those who hate Your people gather around their cities, or whatever trouble or sickness there is,

38 w hatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:

whatever prayer is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the trouble of his own heart and spreading his hands toward this house,

39 t hen hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men),

then hear in heaven where You are. Forgive, and act. Give to each the pay he has earned by all his ways. You know his heart. You alone know the hearts of all the children of men.

40 t hat they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.

May they fear You all the days they live in the land You have given to our fathers.

41 “ Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake

“When a stranger who is not of Your people Israel comes from a far country because of You,

42 ( for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple,

(for they will hear of Your great name and Your powerful hand and Your long arm,) when he comes and prays toward this house,

43 h ear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

hear in heaven where You are. Do all the stranger asks of You. So all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel. Then they may know that this house I have built is called by Your name.

44 “ When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name,

“When your people go out to battle against those who hate them, by whatever way You send them, when they pray to the Lord toward the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your name,

45 t hen hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

then hear their prayer and their cry in heaven. See that the right thing is done to them.

46 “ When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near;

“When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin), and You will be angry with them, give them to those who hate them, so they will be taken away to another land, far away or near.

47 y et when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness’;

When they do some thinking in the land where they have been taken, and pray to You in the land of those who hate them, saying, ‘We have sinned and have done wrong and have done bad things,’

48 a nd when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name:

if they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of those who hate them and have taken them there, and if they pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your name,

49 t hen hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause,

then hear their prayer in heaven where You are. See that the right thing is done to them.

50 a nd forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them

Forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the wrong they have done against You. Give them loving-pity in front of those who have taken them away, that they may have loving-pity on them.

51 ( for they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the iron furnace),

For they are Your people and Your children whom You have brought out of Egypt, from the iron fire-place.

52 t hat Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You.

Let Your eyes be open to the prayer of Your servant and of Your people Israel. Listen to them when they call to You.

53 F or You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your inheritance, as You spoke by Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.” Solomon Blesses the Assembly

For You have divided them from all the peoples of the earth as Your children. You have done what You said You would do through Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.” Prayer for Good to Come to the People

54 A nd so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

When Solomon had finished praying all this prayer to the Lord, he stood up in front of the altar of the Lord. He had been on his knees with his hands lifted toward heaven.

55 T hen he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

He stood and prayed with a loud voice that good would come to all the people of Israel who were gathered together. He said,

56 “ Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.

“Thanks be to the Lord. He has given rest to His people Israel. He has done all that He promised. Every word has come true of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.

57 M ay the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us,

May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us alone.

58 t hat He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.

May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep all His Word and all His Laws, which He told our fathers.

59 A nd may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require,

May these words of mine, which I have prayed to the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night. May He see that the right thing is done to His servant and His people Israel, day by day as we have need.

60 t hat all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.

Then all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God. There is no other.

61 L et your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.” Solomon Dedicates the Temple

So let your whole heart be true to the Lord our God. Walk in His Laws and keep His Word, just as you are doing today.” The House of God Is Set Apart

62 T hen the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord.

Then the king and all Israel with him gave a gift in worship to the Lord.

63 A nd Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord.

Solomon gave 22, 000 cattle and 120, 000 sheep as a peace gift to the Lord. So the king and all the people of Israel set apart the house of the Lord.

64 O n the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord; for there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

The same day the king set apart the center of the open space that was in front of the house of the Lord. For there he gave the burnt gift and the grain gift and the fat of the peace gifts. Because the brass altar before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt gift and the grain gift and the fat of the peace gifts.

65 A t that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days and seven more days—fourteen days.

So Solomon had the special supper at that time, and all Israel with him. There were many people gathered, from the way into Hamath to the river of Egypt. They were before the Lord our God for seven days and seven more days, fourteen days in all.

66 O n the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the good that the Lord had done for His servant David, and for Israel His people.

Solomon sent the people away on the eighth day, and they gave thanks to the king. Then they went to their tents full of joy and glad in their hearts for all the good things the Lord had shown to His servant David and to His people Israel.