1 T hen Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, with all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ households of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh’s covenant out of David’s city, 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 A ll the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month 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 A ll the elders of Israel came, and the priests picked 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 hey brought up Yahweh’s ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent. The priests and the Levites brought these 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 K ing Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle, 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 he priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under the cherubim’s wings.

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 wings out over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.

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 were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary; but they were not seen outside. 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 T here was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh 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 I t came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled Yahweh’s house,

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 stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for Yahweh’s glory filled Yahweh’s house.

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 said, “Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

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

13 I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.”

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

14 T he king turned his face around, and blessed all the assembly of Israel; and all the assembly of Israel stood.

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 H e said, “Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David your father, and has with his hand 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 chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel 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 “ Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the 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 Yahweh 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.

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 house; but your son who shall come out of your body, he shall build the house 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 Y ahweh has established his word that he spoke; for I have risen up in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the 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 T here I have set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

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 S olomon stood before the altar of Yahweh 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, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keeps covenant and loving kindness with your servants, who walk before you with all their heart;

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 w ho has kept with your servant David my father that which you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.

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 N ow therefore, may Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, ‘There shall not fail from you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to 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 “ Now therefore, God of Israel, please let your word be verified, which you spoke 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 B ut will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that 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 have respect for the prayer of your servant, and for his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays 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 house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there;’ to listen to the prayer which your servant prays 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 L isten to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Yes, 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 “ If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house;

“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, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give 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 struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; if they turn again to you, and confess your name, and pray and make supplication to you in this house;

“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 again 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 sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when 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, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for 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 “ If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague, 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 and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall each know the plague of his own heart, and spread out his hands toward this house,

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 every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children 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 the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he comes out of 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 shall hear of your great name, and of your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house;

(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 that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, to fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house 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 “ If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to Yahweh toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house 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 I f they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off 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 if they repent in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned, and have done perversely; we have dealt wickedly;’

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 i f they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried 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;

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 their prayer and their supplication in heaven, your dwelling place, 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 in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried 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, which you brought out of Egypt, from the middle 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 to the supplication of your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they cry 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 Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh.”

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 I t was so, that when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread out toward 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 H e 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 Yahweh, 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 by Moses his servant.

“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 Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. Let him not leave us or 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 him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his ordinances, 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 L et these my words, with which I have made supplication before Yahweh, be near to Yahweh our God day and night, that he may maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as every day requires;

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 Yahweh himself is God. There is no one else.

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

61 “ Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as it is today.”

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 he king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before Yahweh.

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

63 S olomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to Yahweh, twenty two thousand head of cattle, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated Yahweh’s house.

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 T he same day the king made the middle of the court holy that was before Yahweh’s house; for there he offered the burnt offering, and the meal offering, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before Yahweh was too little to receive the burnt offering, the meal offering, 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 S o Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven more days, even 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 in their hearts for all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David his servant, and to 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.