Add parallel Print Page Options

Then Solomon said, The Lord promised, that he would dwell in [the] darkness;

and I have built an house to his name, that he should dwell therein without end. (and I have built a House in honour of his name, so that he can live in it forevermore.)

And Solomon turned his face, and blessed all the multitude of Israel; for all the company stood attentive (for all the congregation stood attentive);

and he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath fulfilled in work that thing, that he spake to David, my father, and said,

From the day in which I led my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose not a city of all the lineages of Israel, that an house should be builded therein to my name, neither I chose any other man, that he should be duke upon my people Israel; (From the day in which I led my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel, where a House would be built in honour of my name, nor did I choose any man, who would be the leader of my people Israel;)

but (then) I chose Jerusalem, that my name (would) be therein, and I chose David, to ordain him upon my people Israel.

And when it was of the will of David, my father, to build an house to the name of the Lord God of Israel, (And when it was the desire of my father David, to build a House in honour of the name of the Lord God of Israel,)

the Lord said to him, For this was thy will, to build an house to my name, soothly thou didest well, having such a will, (the Lord said to him, For this was thy desire, to build a House in honour of my name, truly thou didest well, having such a desire,)

but yet thou shalt not build an house to me; nevertheless the son, that shall go out of thy loins, he shall build an house to my name. (but yet thou shalt not build a House for me; but the son, who shall go out of thy loins, he shall build a House in honour of my name.)

10 Therefore the Lord hath fulfilled his word, that he spake; and I rose up for David, my father, and I sat on the throne of Israel, as the Lord spake, and I have builded an house to the name of the Lord God of Israel (and I have built a House in honour of the name of the Lord God of Israel);

11 and I have put therein the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord, which he covenanted with the sons of Israel. (and I have put the Ark in it, in which is the covenant of the Lord, which he covenanted with the Israelites.)

12 Therefore Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord even against all the multitude of Israel, and stretched forth his hands. (And so Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of all the multitude of Israel, and stretched out his hands.)

13 For Solomon had made a brazen foundament, and had set it in the midst of the great house, and it had five cubits of length, and five (cubits) of breadth, and three cubits of height, and he stood there upon [it]; and from that time he kneeled against all the multitude of Israel, and he raised up his hands into heaven, (For Solomon had made a bronze foundation, or platform, and had set it in the midst of the great courtyard, and it had five cubits of length, and five cubits of breadth, and three cubits of height, and he stood upon it; and then he knelt before all the multitude of Israel, and he raised up his hands toward heaven,)

14 and said, Lord God of Israel, none is like thee; thou art God in heaven, and in earth, which keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants, that go before thee in all their heart; (and said, Lord God of Israel, there is no god like thee, in heaven, or on earth, who keepest covenant with thy servants, and showest them love, yea, to those who go before thee with all their heart;)

15 thou hast given to David thy servant, my father, whatever thing thou hast spoken, or promised, to him; and thou hast fulfilled in work those things, which thou promisedest by mouth, as also this present time proveth. (thou hast given to thy servant David, my father, whatever thou hast promised to him; and thou hast fulfilled in work those things, which thou promisedest with thy mouth, as this present time proveth.)

16 Now therefore, Lord God of Israel, fulfill thou to thy servant, my father David, whatever things thou hast spoken, saying, A man of thee shall not fail before me, that shall sit upon the throne of Israel; so nevertheless if thy sons keep my ways (so shall it be if thy sons keep my ways), and go in my law, as and thou hast gone before me.

17 And now, Lord God of Israel, thy word be made steadfast, which thou spakest to thy servant David.

18 Therefore whether it is believeful, that the Lord dwell with men on earth? If heaven and the heavens of heavens (may not) take, either may not hold thee, Lord, how much more this house, which I have builded? (And so is it believable, that the Lord can live with people here on earth? If heaven and the heavens of heavens cannot hold thee, Lord, how much less this House, Lord, which I have built for thee?)

19 But hereto only it is made, that thou, my Lord God, behold there the prayer of thy servant, and the beseeching of him, and that thou hear the prayers, which thy servant poureth [out] before thee;

20 that thou open thine eyes upon this house by days and nights, upon the place in which thou promisedest, that thy name should be in-called, and that thou wouldest hear the prayer, which thy servant prayeth therein. (and that thou open thine eyes upon this House day and night, yea, upon the place in which thou promisedest, that thy name would be there, and that thou wouldest hear the prayer, which thy servant prayeth in it.)

21 Hear thou the prayers of thy servant, and of thy people Israel; whoever prayeth in this place, hear thou from thy dwelling place, that is, from heaven, and do thou mercy to him.

22 If any man sinneth against his neighbour, and cometh ready to swear against him, and bindeth himself with cursing before the altar in this house, (If any man sinneth against his neighbour, and must swear an oath, and bindeth himself with that oath before the altar in this House,)

23 thou shalt hear from heaven, and shalt do the doom of thy servants; so that thou yield to the wicked man his way into his own head, and that thou venge the just man, and yield to him after his rightwiseness. (thou shalt hear from heaven, and shalt do justice for thy servants/and shalt make judgement for thy servants; so that thou yield to the wicked person his way upon his own head, and that thou avenge the just person, and reward him because of his righteousness.)

24 If thy people Israel is overcome of enemies, for they shall do sin against thee, and if they converted do penance, and beseech thy name, and pray in this place, (And if thy people Israel be overcome by enemies, for they have sinned against thee, and if they be turned and do penance, and beseech thy name, and pray in this place,)

25 thou shalt hear from heaven, and do thou mercy to the sin of thy people Israel (and forgive the sin of thy people Israel), and bring them again into the land, which thou hast given to them, and to their fathers.

26 If when heaven is closed, rain come not down for the sin of thy people, and they beseech thee in this place, and acknowledge to thy name, and be turned from their sins, when thou hast tormented them, (And when the heavens be closed up, and rain come not down for the sin of thy people, and they beseech thee in this place, and acknowledge, or confess, thy name, and be turned from their sins, when thou hast tormented them,)

27 hear thou, Lord, from heaven, and forgive thou the sins to thy servants, and to thy people Israel (and forgive thou the sins of thy servants, and of thy people Israel), and teach thou them a good way, by which they shall enter, and give thou rain to the land, which thou hast given to thy people to have in possession.

28 (And) If that hunger riseth in the land, and pestilence, and rust, and wind destroying corns, (or crops,) and if that a locust, and (a) bruchus cometh; and if enemies besiege the gates of the city, after that the countries be destroyed (after that the countryside is destroyed); and if (in) any manner vengeance and sickness oppresseth thy people;

29 if any of thy people Israel beseecheth, and knoweth his vengeance, that is, his sin wherefore he hath deserved (this) vengeance, and sickness, and if he spreadeth abroad his hands in this house,

30 thou shalt hear from heaven, that is, from thine high dwelling place, and do thou mercy, and yield thou to each man after his ways, which thou knowest, that he hath in his heart; for thou alone knowest the hearts of the sons of men; (thou shalt hear from heaven, that is, from thy high dwelling place, and then do thou mercy, and yield thou to each person after their ways, which thou knowest, that they have in heir heart; for thou alone knowest the hearts of people;)

31 that they dread thee (so that they shall fear thee/so that they shall revere thee), and go in thy ways in all days, in which they live on the face of [the] earth, which thou hast given to our fathers.

32 Also thou shalt hear from heaven, thy most steadfast dwelling place, a stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, if he cometh from a far land for thy great name, and for thy strong hand, and thine arm stretched forth, and prayeth in this place; (And thou shalt hear from heaven, thy most steadfast dwelling place, a stranger, who is not of thy people Israel, if he cometh from a far land for thy great name’s sake, and for thy strong hand, and thy out-stretched arm, and prayeth in this place;)

33 and thou shalt do all things, for which that pilgrim inwardly calleth thee, that all the people of (the) earth know thy name, and dread thee, as thy people Israel doeth; and that they know, that thy name is called on (in) this house, which I have builded to thy name. (and thou shalt do all the things, for which that pilgrim inwardly calleth thee, so that all the people of the earth can know thy name, and fear thee/and revere thee, as thy people Israel doeth; and so that they can know, that thy name is called on in this House, which I have built in honour of thy name.)

34 If thy people goeth out to battle against his adversaries, by the way in which thou sendest them, they shall worship thee against the way in which this city is set, which thou hast chosen, and the house which I [have] builded to thy name, (If thy people goeth out to battle against their adversaries, by the way in which thou sendest them, they shall worship thee toward the way in which this city is set, which thou hast chosen, and the House which I have built in honour of thy name,)

35 that thou hear from heaven their prayers and their beseeching, and do thou vengeance to their adversaries.

36 And if they sin against thee, for no man is alive that sinneth not, and if thou art wroth with them, and betakest them to their enemies (and deliverest them to their enemies); and (the) enemies lead them (away as) prisoners into a far land, either certainly which land is nigh;

37 and if they be converted in their heart in the land, to which they be led prisoners, and they do penance, and beseech thee in the land of their captivity, and say, We have sinned, we have done wickedly, we did unjustly;

38 and if they turn again to thee in all their heart, and in all their soul, in the land of their captivity, to which they be led, and if they shall worship thee against the way of their land, which thou hast given to the fathers of them, and against the way of the city which thou hast chosen, and of the house which I [have] builded to thy name; (and if they turn again to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity to which they be led away, and if they shall worship thee toward the way of their land, which thou hast given to their fathers, and toward the way of the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the way of the House which I have built in honour of thy name;)

39 that thou hear from heaven, that is, from thy steadfast dwelling place, the prayers of them, and that thou make doom, and forgive to thy people, though they be sinful; (that thou hear from heaven, that is, from thy steadfast dwelling place, their prayers, and that thou give them justice/and that thou make judgement, and forgive thy people, even though they have been sinful;)

40 for thou art my God; I beseech thee, be thine eyes opened (let thine eyes be opened), and thine ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

41 Now therefore, Lord God, rise up into thy rest, thou and the ark of thy strength; Lord God, thy priests be clothed with health (Lord God, let thy priests be clothed with salvation), and thy holy men be glad in good things.

42 Lord God, turn thou not away the face of thy christ; have thou mind on the mercies of David thy servant. (Lord God, turn thou not away the face of thy anointed; remember thy abiding love for thy servant David.)

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;(A) I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.(B)

While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. Then he said:

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem(C) for my Name(D) to be there, and I have chosen David(E) to rule my people Israel.’

“My father David had it in his heart(F) to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’

10 “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant(G) of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(H)(I)

12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Now he had made a bronze platform,(J) five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high,[a] and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down(K) before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said:

Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you(L) in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love(M) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised(N) and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

16 “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail(O) to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law,(P) as you have done.’ 17 And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

18 “But will God really dwell(Q) on earth with humans? The heavens,(R) even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes(S) be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name(T) there. May you hear(U) the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.(V)

22 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath(W) and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, 23 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning(X) the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.

24 “When your people Israel have been defeated(Y) by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.

26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(Z) because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive(AA) the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

28 “When famine(AB) or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 29 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— 30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive,(AC) and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart),(AD) 31 so that they will fear you(AE) and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

32 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come(AF) from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand(AG) and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 33 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner(AH) asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

34 “When your people go to war against their enemies,(AI) wherever you send them, and when they pray(AJ) to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.

36 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin(AK)—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive(AL) to a land far away or near; 37 and if they have a change of heart(AM) in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; 38 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive(AN) your people, who have sinned against you.

40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive(AO) to the prayers offered in this place.

41 “Now arise,(AP) Lord God, and come to your resting place,(AQ)
    you and the ark of your might.
May your priests,(AR) Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
    may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.(AS)
42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.(AT)
    Remember the great love(AU) promised to David your servant.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:13 That is, about 7 1/2 feet long and wide and 4 1/2 feet high or about 2.3 meters long and wide and 1.4 meters high