1Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness. 2But I have built a magnificent Temple for You, and a place for You to dwell forever.”

3And the king turned around, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel; while all the Israelite assembly stood. 4And he said, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, Who has fulfilled all that He promised to my father, David, when He said, 5’Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build a Temple in, that My name might be there; nor did I chose any man to be a ruler over My people Israel: 6But I have now 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 my father, David, to build a Temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 8But the LORD said to my father, ‘You did well in that it was in your heart to build a Temple for My name: 9However, you shall not build the Temple; but your son, who shall be of your own flesh and blood, shall build the Temple for My name.’ 10The LORD, therefore, has kept His word that He has spoken; for I have succeeded and am seated on the throne of Israel in the place of David, my father, as the LORD promised, and have built the Temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 11And in it I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD, that He made with the children of Israel.”

12And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the entire congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands; 13Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits (7½ feet) long, five cubits (7½ feet) wide, and three cubits (4½ feet) high, and had set it in the center of the court, and he stood upon it, and knelt down before all the congregation of Israel, and spread his hands toward heaven, 14And said, “O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like You in the heaven, nor on earth; Who keeps covenant, and shows mercy to Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts, 15You Who have kept Your promise to Your servant David, my father; and spoke with Your mouth, and have fulfilled it, as it is this day. 16Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep for Your servant David, my father, all that You have promised him, when You said, ‘If only your descendants are careful in all their ways to walk in My law, as you have walked before Me, they shall never fail to have a man in My sight to sit upon the throne of Israel.’ 17Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let Your word be verified, which You have told Your servant, David.

18“But will God really dwell with men on the earth? Even heaven, the heaven of heavens, cannot contain You; how much less this Temple which I have built! 19Have regard for this, my prayer, and supplication, O LORD my God, to hear the cry and prayer I make before You: 20That Your eyes may be ever open and upon this Temple day and night - the place where You have said that You would put Your name - to hear the prayer which Your servant prays toward this place. 21Hear, therefore, the supplications of Your servant, and of Your people Israel, which they shall make toward this place; hear from Your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when You hear, forgive.

22“If a man wrongs his neighbor, and is required to swear an oath, and the oath comes before Your altar in this Temple, 23Then hear from heaven, and act with judgement among Your people, bringing down upon the head of the wicked the reward for his wicked ways, and vindicate the innocent, by rewarding him for his uprightness.

24“And if Your people, Israel, suffer defeat by the enemy, because they have sinned against You; and then repent, confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this Temple, 25Then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which You gave to them and to their fathers.

26“When 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 punish them, 27Then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people, Israel, and teach them the good way to live and act; and send rain upon this, Your land, which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.

28“If there is famine in the land, or pestilence, blight, mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatever adversity or sickness there is: 29Then, whatever prayer or supplication shall be made by anyone, or by all Your people, Israel, when everyone shall know his own plague and his own grief, and shall spread his hands in this Temple, 30Then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of men), 31That they may fear You, and walk in Your ways, as long as they live in this land which You gave to our fathers.

32“As for the foreigner, who is not of Your people, Israel, but has come from a far country because of Your great name, and Your strong hand, and mighty arm; if they come and pray in or toward this Temple, 33Then hear from Your heavenly dwelling place, and grant what that foreigner asks of You; that all people of the earth may know Your name, fear and honor You, as do Your people, Israel, that may know that this Temple, which I have built, is called by Your name.

34“If Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You shall send them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen, and the Temple which I have built for Your name, 35Then hear from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

36“If they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin), and You are angry with them, and hand them over to their enemies, and they are carried away captives to a land far off or near, 37Yet, if they take it to their hearts in the land where they are held captive, and turn and pray to You in that land, and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and acted wickedly’; 38If they repent, and return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried, and pray toward their land, which You gave to their fathers, and toward the city which You have chosen, and toward the Temple which I have built for Your name, 39Then hear, from Your heavenly dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.

40“Now, my God, I beseech You, let Your eyes be ever open, and Your ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

41“Now, arise, O LORD God, come into 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, do not reject Your anointed one; remember Your steadfast love for David, Your servant.”