1Then said Solomon, The LORD has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

2But I have built a house of habitation for you, and a place for your dwelling forever.

3And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.

4And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has with his hands fulfilled that which he spoke with his mouth to my father David, saying,

5Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:

6But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

7Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

8But the LORD said to David my father, Since it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well in that it was in your heart:

9Nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.

10The LORD therefore has performed his word that he has spoken: for 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 the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

11And in it have I put the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.

Solomon's Prayer of Dedication

12And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:

13For Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,

14And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heaven, nor in the earth; who keeps covenant, and shows mercy unto your servants, that walk before you with all their hearts:

15You who have kept with your servant David my father that which you have promised him; and spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day.

16Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; if only your children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as you have walked before me.

17Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let your word be verified, which you have spoken unto your servant David.

18But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house which I have built!

19Have respect therefore to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which your servant prays before you:

20That your eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place of which you have said that you would put your name there; to hearken unto the prayer which your servant prays toward this place.

21Hearken therefore unto the supplications of your servant, and of your people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear you from your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.

22If a man sins against his neighbor, and is made to take an oath, and the oath is made before your altar in this house;

23Then hear from heaven, and act, and judge your servants, by requiting the wicked, by bringing his conduct upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving to him according to his righteousness.

24And if your people Israel are defeated before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; and shall return and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house;

25Then hear from the heavens, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which you gave to them and to their fathers.

26When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you do afflict them;

27Then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you have taught them the good way, in which they should walk; and send rain upon your land, which you have given unto your people for an inheritance.

28If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever plague or whatsoever sickness there is:

29Then whatsoever prayer or whatsoever supplication shall be made by any man, or by all your people Israel, when each one shall know his own affliction and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:

30Then hear from heaven your dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart you know; (for you alone know the hearts of the children of men:)

31That they may fear you, to walk in your ways, as long as they live in the land which you gave unto our fathers.

32Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, but has come from a far country for your great name's sake, and your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm; if they come and pray in this house;

33Then hear from the heavens, even from your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all people of the earth may know your name, and fear you, as does your people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.

34If your people go out to war against their enemies by the way that you shall send them, and they pray unto you toward this city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name;

35Then hear from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

36If they sin against you, (for there is no man who sins not,) and you are angry with them, and deliver them over to their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far or near;

37Yet if they come to themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto you in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have dealt wickedly;

38If they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which you gave unto their fathers, and toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name:

39Then hear from the heavens, even from your dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.

40Now, my God, let, I beseech you, your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place.

41Now therefore arise, O LORD God, to your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength: let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness.

42O LORD God, turn not away the face of your anointed: remember the mercies of David your servant.