1 T hen 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.

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chiefs of the fathers’ houses of the Israelites, before the king in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Zion, the City of David.

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

All the men of Israel assembled themselves before King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month, Ethanim.

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

All the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

4 T hey 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.

And they brought up the ark of the Lord, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.

5 K ing 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.

King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who had assembled before him were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, so many that they could not be reported or counted.

6 T hen 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.

And the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place in the Holy of Holies of the house, under the wings of the cherubim.

7 T he 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.

For the cherubim spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles.

8 T he 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.

The poles were so long that the ends of them were seen from the Holy Place before the Holy of Holies, but they were not seen outside; they are there to this day.

9 T here 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.

There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt.

10 W hen the religious leaders came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord.

When the priests had come out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the Lord’s house,

11 S o 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.

So the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.

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

Then Solomon said, The Lord said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.

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

I have surely built You a house of habitation, a settled place for You to dwell in forever.

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

And the king turned his face about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel stood.

15 H e 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,

He said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, Who spoke with His mouth to David my father and has with His hand fulfilled it, saying,

16 ’ 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.’

Since the day that I brought forth My people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My Name might be in it, but I chose David to be over My people Israel.

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

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

18 B ut 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.

And the Lord said to David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you did well that it was in your heart.

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

Yet you shall not build the house, but your son, who shall be born to you, shall build it to My Name.

20 N ow 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.

And the Lord has fulfilled His promise which He made: I have risen up in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built a house for the Name (renown) of the Lord, the God of Israel.

21 T here 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

And I have made there a place for the ark '> His presence], in which is the covenant of the Lord which He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.

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

Then Solomon stood before the Lord’s burnt offering altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven

23 H e 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.

And he said, O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing mercy and loving-kindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart.

24 Y ou 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.

You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father. You also spoke with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.

25 S o 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.’

Therefore now, O Lord, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father what You promised him when You said, There shall not fail you a man before Me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have done.

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

Now, O God of Israel, let Your word which You spoke to Your servant David my father be confirmed.

27 “ 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!

But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, the heavens and heaven of heavens cannot contain You; how much less this house that I have built?

28 B ut 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.

Yet graciously consider the prayer and supplication of Your servant, O Lord my God, to hearken to the cry and prayer which he prays before You today,

29 O pen 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.

That Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, My Name shall be there, that You may hearken to the prayer which Your servant shall make in this place.

30 L isten 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.

Hearken to the prayer of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray in or toward this place. Hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.

31 “ 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,

Whenever a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears the oath before Your altar in this house,

32 t hen 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.

Then hear in heaven and do and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing his guilt upon his own head and justifying the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness (his uprightness, right standing with God).

33 “ 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,

When Your people Israel are struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against You, and they turn again to You, confess Your name (Your revelation of Yourself), and pray, beseeching You in this house,

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

Then hear in heaven and 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 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,

When heaven is shut up and no rain falls because they have sinned against You, if they pray in this place and confess Your name (Your revelation of Yourself) and turn from their sin when You afflict them,

36 t hen 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.

Then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, when You teach them the good way in which they should walk. And give rain upon Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

37 “ 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,

If there is famine in the land or pestilence, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

38 w hatever 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,

Whatever prayer or supplication is made by any or all of Your people Israel—each man knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading forth his hands toward this house —

39 t hen 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.

Then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart You know, for You and You only know the hearts of all the children of men,

40 M ay they fear You all the days they live in the land You have given to our fathers.

That they may fear and revere You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.

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

Moreover, concerning a stranger who is not of Your people Israel but comes from a far country for the sake of Your name —

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

For they will hear of Your great name (Your revelation of Yourself), Your strong hand, and outstretched arm—when he shall pray in this house,

43 h ear 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.

Hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger asks of You, so that all peoples of the earth may know Your name '> Your revelation of Your presence] and fear and revere You, as do Your people Israel, and may know and comprehend that this house which I have built is called by Your Name.

44 “ 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,

If Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You shall send them, and shall pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the house that I have built for Your Name,

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

Then hear in heaven their prayer and supplication, and defend their cause and maintain their right.

46 “ 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.

If they sin against You—for there is no man who does not sin—and You are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the enemy’s land, far or near;

47 W hen 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,’

Yet if they think and consider in the land where they were carried captive, and repent and make supplication to You there, saying, We have sinned and have done perversely and wickedly;

48 i f 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,

If they repent and turn to You with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your Name;

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

Then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, Your dwelling place, and defend their cause and maintain their right.

50 F orgive 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.

And forgive Your people, who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions against You, and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have pity and be merciful to them;

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

For they are Your people and Your heritage, which You brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace.

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

Let Your eyes be open to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, to hearken to them in all for which they call to You.

53 F or 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

For You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your heritage, as You declared through Moses Your servant when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.

54 W hen 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.

When Solomon finished offering all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, he arose from before the Lord’s altar, where he had knelt with hands stretched toward heaven.

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

And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,

56 “ 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.

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

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

May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us,

58 M ay 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.

That He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His precepts which He commanded our fathers.

59 M ay 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.

Let these my words, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause and right of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires,

60 T hen all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God. There is no other.

That all the earth’s people may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other.

61 S o 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

Let your hearts therefore be blameless and wholly true to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as today.

62 T hen the king and all Israel with him gave a gift in worship to the Lord.

And the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifice before the Lord.

63 S olomon 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.

Solomon offered as peace offerings to the Lord: 22, 000 oxen and 120, 000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the Lord.

64 T he 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.

On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the Lord’s house; there he offered burnt offerings, cereal offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to receive the offerings.

65 S o 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.

So at that time Solomon held the feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, for seven days and seven days, fourteen days in all.

66 S olomon 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.

On the eighth day he sent the people away; they blessed the king and went to their tents with greatest joy and gratitude for all the goodness the Lord had shown to David His servant and Israel His people.