NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Solomon convened in Jerusalem Israel's elders, all the leaders of the Israelite tribes and families, so they could witness the transferal of the ark of the LORD's covenant from the city of David (that is, Zion).

1Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the city of David, which is Zion.

2All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon during the festival in the month Ethanim (the seventh month).

2All the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.

3When all Israel's elders had arrived, the priests lifted the ark.

3Then all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

4The priests and Levites carried the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all the holy items in the tent.

4They brought up the ark of the LORD and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils, which were in the tent, and the priests and the Levites brought them up.

5Now King Solomon and all the Israelites who had assembled with him went on ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted or numbered.

5And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen they could not be counted or numbered.

6The priests brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its assigned place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubs.

6Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim.

7The cherubs' wings extended over the place where the ark sat; the cherubs overshadowed the ark and its poles.

7For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles from above.

8The poles were so long their ends were visible from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from beyond that point. They have remained there to this very day.

8But the poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; they are there to this day.

9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb. It was there that the LORD made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

9There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

10Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the LORD's temple.

10It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD,

11The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the LORD's glory filled his temple.

11so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

12Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he lives in thick darkness.

12Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

13O LORD, truly I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently."

13"I have surely built You a lofty house, A place for Your dwelling forever."

14Then the king turned around and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.

14Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.

15He said, "The LORD God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled what he promised my father David.

15He said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying,

16He told David, 'Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live. But I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.'

16Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I chose David to be over My people Israel.'

17Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the LORD God of Israel.

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

18The LORD told my father David, 'It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me.

18"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.

19But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.'

19'Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.'

20The LORD has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David's place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built this temple for the honor of the LORD God of Israel

20"Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

21and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the LORD made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."

21"There I have set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD, which He made with our fathers when He brought them from the land of Egypt."

22Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward the sky.

22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.

23He prayed: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You maintain covenantal loyalty to your servants who obey you with sincerity.

23He said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart,

24You have kept your word to your servant, my father David; this very day you have fulfilled what you promised.

24who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You have promised him; indeed, You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand as it is this day.

25Now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, 'You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants watch their step and serve me as you have done.'

25"Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk before Me as you have walked.'

26Now, O God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant, my father David, be realized.

26"Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.

27"God does not really live on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built!

27"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!

28But respond favorably to your servant's prayer and his request for help, O LORD my God. Answer the desperate prayer your servant is presenting to you today.

28"Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today;

29Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. May you answer your servant's prayer for this place.

29that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, 'My name shall be there,' to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.

30Respond to the request of your servant and your people Israel for this place. Hear from inside your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably.

30"Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.

31"When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple, be willing to forgive the accused if the accusation is false.

31"If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house,

32Listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants' claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.

32then hear in heaven and act and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

33"The time will come when your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you. If they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help in this temple,

33"When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned against You, if they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and make supplication to You in this house,

34then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.

34then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.

35"The time will come when the skies are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place, renew their allegiance to you, and turn away from their sin because you punish them,

35"When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name and turn from their sin when You afflict them,

36then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly you will then teach them the right way to live and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess.

36then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land, which You have given Your people for an inheritance.

37"The time will come when the land suffers from a famine, a plague, blight and disease, or a locust invasion, or when their enemy lays siege to the cities of the land, or when some other type of plague or epidemic occurs.

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

38When all your people Israel pray and ask for help, as they acknowledge their pain and spread out their hands toward this temple,

38whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house;

39then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin, and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of his motives. (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.)

39then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men,

40Then they will obey you throughout their lifetimes as they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.

40that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.

41"Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your reputation.

41"Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name's sake

42When they hear about your great reputation and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds, they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple.

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

43Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners. Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, obey you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.

43hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order 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.

44"When you direct your people to march out and fight their enemies, and they direct their prayers to the LORD toward his chosen city and this temple I built for your honor,

44"When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name,

45then listen from heaven to their prayers for help and vindicate them.

45then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

46"The time will come when your people will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry with them and deliver them over to their enemies, who will take them as prisoners to their own land, whether far away or close by.

46"When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;

47When your people come to their senses in the land where they are held prisoner, they will repent and beg for your mercy in the land of their imprisonment, admitting, 'We have sinned and gone astray; we have done evil.'

47if they take thought in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, 'We have sinned and have committed iniquity, we have acted wickedly';

48When they return to you with all their heart and being in the land where they are held prisoner, and direct their prayers to you toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,

48if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name;

49then listen from your heavenly dwelling place to their prayers for help and vindicate them.

49then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause,

50Forgive all the rebellious acts of your sinful people and cause their captors to have mercy on them.

50and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them

51After all, they are your people and your special possession whom you brought out of Egypt, from the middle of the iron-smelting furnace.

51(for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought forth from Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace),

52"May you be attentive to your servant's and your people Israel's requests for help and may you respond to all their prayers to you.

52that 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 call to You.

53After all, you picked them out of all the nations of the earth to be your special possession, just as you, O sovereign LORD, announced through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt."

53"For You have separated them from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, as You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers forth from Egypt, O Lord GOD."

54When Solomon finished presenting all these prayers and requests to the LORD, he got up from before the altar of the LORD where he had kneeled and spread out his hands toward the sky.

54When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven.

55When he stood up, he pronounced a blessing over the entire assembly of Israel, saying in a loud voice:

55And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

56"The LORD is worthy of praise because he has made Israel his people secure just as he promised! Not one of all the faithful promises he made through his servant Moses is left unfulfilled!

56"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.

57May the LORD our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors. May he not abandon us or leave us.

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

58May he make us submissive, so we can follow all his instructions and obey the commandments, rules, and regulations he commanded our ancestors.

58that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.

59May the LORD our God be constantly aware of these requests of mine I have presented to him, so that he might vindicate his servant and his people Israel as the need arises.

59"And may these words of mine, 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 of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires,

60Then all the nations of the earth will recognize that the LORD is the only genuine God.

60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else.

61May you demonstrate wholehearted devotion to the LORD our God by following his rules and obeying his commandments, as you are presently doing."

61"Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day."

62The king and all Israel with him were presenting sacrifices to the LORD.

62Now the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifice before the LORD.

63Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. Then the king and all the Israelites dedicated the LORD's temple.

63Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.

64That day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that is in front of the LORD's temple. He offered there burnt sacrifices, grain offerings, and the fat from the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that stood before the LORD was too small to hold all these offerings.

64On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, because there he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings; for the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings.

65At that time Solomon and all Israel with him celebrated a festival before the LORD our God for two entire weeks. This great assembly included people from all over the land, from Lebo Hamath in the north to the Brook of Egypt in the south.

65So Solomon observed the feast at that time, 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 more days, even fourteen days.

66On the fifteenth day after the festival started, he dismissed the people. They asked God to empower the king and then went to their homes, happy and content because of all the good the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel.

66On the eighth day he sent the people away and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had shown to David His servant and to Israel His people.

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