1 T hen doth Solomon assemble the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, princes of the fathers of the sons of Israel, unto king Solomon, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah from the city of David -- it 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 nd all the men of Israel are assembled unto king Solomon, in the month of Ethanim, in the festival -- the seventh month.

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

3 A nd all the elders of Israel come in, and the priests lift up the ark,

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

4 a nd bring up the ark of Jehovah, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that in the tent, yea, the priests and the Levites bring 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 nd king Solomon and all the company of Israel who are met unto him with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that are not counted nor 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 A nd the priests bring in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, unto the oracle of the house, unto the holy of holies, unto the place of the wings of the cherubs;

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 cherubs are spreading forth two wings unto the place of the ark, and the cherubs cover over the ark, and over its staves from 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 a nd they lengthen the staves, and the heads of the staves are seen from the holy on the front of the oracle, and are not seen without, and they are there unto 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 is nothing in the ark, only the two tables of stone which Moses put there in Horeb, when Jehovah covenanted with the sons of Israel in their going 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 cometh to pass, in the going out of the priests from the holy, that the cloud hath filled the house of Jehovah,

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

11 a nd the priests have not been able to stand to minister because of the cloud, for the honour of Jehovah hath filled the house of Jehovah.

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 said Solomon, `Jehovah hath said to dwell in thick darkness;

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

13 I have surely built a house of habitation for Thee; a fixed place for Thine abiding to the ages.'

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

14 A nd the king turneth round his face, and blesseth the whole assembly of Israel; and all the assembly of Israel is 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 saith, `Blessed Jehovah, God of Israel, who spake by His mouth with David my father, and by His hand hath fulfilled, 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 F rom the day that I brought out My people, even Israel, from Egypt, I have not fixed on a city out of all the tribes of Israel, to build a house for My name being there; and I fix on 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 ` And it is with the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Jehovah, 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 a nd Jehovah saith unto David my father, Because that it hath been with thy heart to build a house for My name, thou hast done well that it hath been with thy 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 o nly, thou dost not build the house, but thy son who is coming out from thy loins, he doth 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 ` And Jehovah doth establish His word which He spake, and I am risen up instead of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah spake, and build the house for the name of Jehovah, 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 set there a place for the ark, where the covenant of Jehovah which He made with our fathers in His bringing them out from 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 A nd Solomon standeth before the altar of Jehovah, over-against all the assembly of Israel, and spreadeth his hands towards the heavens,

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 saith, `Jehovah, God of Israel, there is not a God like Thee, in the heavens above, and on the earth beneath, keeping the covenant and the kindness for Thy servants, those walking before Thee 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 hast kept for Thy servant David my father that which Thou spakest to him; yea, Thou speakest with Thy mouth, and with Thy hand hast fulfilled, as 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 ` And now, Jehovah, God of Israel, keep for Thy servant David my father that which Thou spakest to him, saying, There is not cut off to thee a man from before Me, sitting on the throne of Israel -- only, if thy sons watch their way, to walk before Me as thou hast 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 ` And now, O God of Israel, let it be established, I pray Thee, Thy word which Thou hast spoken to Thy 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, is it true? -- God dwelleth on the earth! lo, the heavens, and the heavens of the heavens do not contain Thee, how much less this house which I have builded!

“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 ` Then thou hast turned unto the prayer of Thy servant, and unto his supplication, O Jehovah my God, to hearken unto the cry and unto the prayer which Thy servant is praying before Thee to-day,

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 f or Thine eyes being open towards this house night and day, towards the place of which Thou hast said, My Name is there; to hearken unto the prayer which Thy servant prayeth towards 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 ` Then Thou hast hearkened unto the supplication of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel, which they pray towards this place; yea, Thou dost hearken in the place of Thy dwelling, in the heavens -- and Thou hast hearkened, and hast forgiven,

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 t hat which a man sinneth against his neighbour, and he hath lifted up upon him an oath to cause him to swear, and the oath hath come in before Thine 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 Thou dost hear in the heavens, and hast done, and hast judged Thy servants, to declare wicked the wicked, to put his way on his head, and to declare righteous 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 ` In Thy people Israel being smitten before an enemy, because they sin against Thee, and they have turned back unto Thee, and have confessed Thy name, and prayed, and made supplication unto Thee 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 thou dost hear in the heavens, and hast forgiven the sin of Thy people Israel, and brought them back unto the ground that Thou gavest 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 ` In the heavens being restrained, and there is no rain, because they sin against Thee, and they have prayed towards this place, and confessed Thy name, and from their sin turn back, for Thou dost 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 Thou dost hear in the heavens, and hast forgiven the sin of Thy servants, and of Thy people Israel, for Thou directest them the good way in which they go, and hast given rain on Thy land which Thou hast given to Thy people for 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 ` Famine -- when it is in the land; pestilence -- when it is; blasting, mildew, locust; caterpillar -- when it is; when its enemy hath distressed it in the land its gates, any plague, any sickness, --

“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 a ny prayer, any supplication that of any man of all Thy people Israel, who know each the plague of his own heart, and hath spread his hands towards 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 Thou dost hear in the heavens, the settled place of Thy dwelling, and hast forgiven, and hast done, and hast given to each according to all his ways, whose heart Thou knowest, (for Thou hast known -- Thyself alone -- the heart of all the sons of man),

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 s o that they fear Thee all the days that they are living on the face of the ground that Thou hast given to our fathers.

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

41 ` And also, unto the stranger who is not of Thy people Israel, and hath come from a land afar off for Thy name's sake --

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

42 ( for they hear of Thy great name, and of Thy strong hand, and of Thy stretched-out arm) -- and he hath come in and prayed towards 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 T hou dost hear in the heavens, the settled place of Thy dwelling, and hast done according to all that the stranger calleth unto Thee for, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Thy name, to fear Thee like Thy people Israel, and to know that Thy name hath been called on this house which I have builded.

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 Thy people doth go out to battle against its enemy, in the way that Thou dost send them, and they have prayed unto Jehovah the way of the city which thou hast fixed on, and of the house which I have builded for Thy 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 Thou hast heard in the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and hast maintained 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 Thee (for there is not a man who sinneth not), and Thou hast been angry with them, and hast given them up before an enemy, and they have taken captive their captivity unto 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 a nd they have turned back unto their heart in the land whither they have been taken captive, and have turned back, and made supplication unto Thee, in the land of their captors, saying, We have sinned and done perversely -- we have done 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 y ea, they have turned back unto Thee, with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and have prayed unto Thee the way of their land, which Thou gavest to their fathers, the city which Thou hast chosen, and the house which I have builded for Thy 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 ` Then Thou hast heard in the heavens, the settled place of Thy dwelling, their prayer and their supplication, and hast maintained their cause,

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

50 a nd hast forgiven Thy people who have sinned against Thee, even all their transgressions which they have transgressed against Thee, and hast given them mercies before their captors, and they have had mercy 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 Thy people and Thy inheritance they, whom Thou didst bring out of Egypt, out of the midst of the furnace of iron) --

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

52 f or Thine eyes being open unto the supplication of Thy servant, and unto the supplication of Thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all they call unto Thee for;

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 Thou hast separated them to Thyself for an inheritance, out of all the peoples of the earth, as Thou didst speak by the hand of Moses Thy servant, in Thy bringing out our fathers from Egypt, O Lord Jehovah.'

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 it cometh to pass, at Solomon's finishing to pray unto Jehovah all this prayer and supplication, he hath risen from before the altar of Jehovah, from bending on his knees, and his hands spread out to the heavens,

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 a nd he standeth and blesseth all the assembly of Israel 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 Jehovah who hath given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He hath spoken; there hath not fallen one word of all His good word, which He spake by the hand of 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 ` Jehovah our God is with us as He hath been with our fathers; He doth not forsake us nor leave us;

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

58 t o incline our heart unto Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commands, 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 these my words with which I have made supplication before Jehovah, are near unto Jehovah our God by day and by night, to maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel, the matter of a day in its day;

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 f or all the peoples of the earth knowing that Jehovah, He God; there is none else;

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

61 a nd your heart hath been perfect with Jehovah our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commands, as this day.'

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 A nd the king and all Israel with him are sacrificing a sacrifice before Jehovah;

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

63 a nd Solomon sacrificeth the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he hath sacrificed to Jehovah, oxen, twenty and two thousand, and sheep, a hundred and twenty thousand; and the king and all the sons of Israel dedicate the house of Jehovah.

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 that day hath the king sanctified the middle of the court that before the house of Jehovah, for he hath made there the burnt-offering, and the present, and the fat of the peace-offerings; for the altar of brass that before Jehovah too little to contain the burnt-offering, and the present, 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 nd Solomon maketh, at that time, the festival -- and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entering in of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt -- before Jehovah our God, seven days and seven 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 hath sent the people away, and they bless the king, and go to their tents, rejoicing and glad of heart for all the good that Jehovah hath done 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.