1Then Solomon said: “Yahweh has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
2But I have built for you an exalted house, a place for your dwelling forever.”
3Then the king turned his face and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while the whole assembly of Israel was standing.
4He said: “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my father, and with his hands has fulfilled it, saying:
5‘From the day I brought my people out from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house for my name to be there, nor did I choose a man to be ruler over my people Israel.
6But I chose Jerusalem for my name to be there, and I chose 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 Yahweh, the God of Israel.
8But Yahweh said to David my father, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.
9Nevertheless, you yourself shall not build the house; rather your son who will come forth from your loins—he shall build the house for my name.’
10So Yahweh has upheld his word that he spoke, for I have risen up in place of David my father and have sat on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh spoke, and I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
11And there I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh that he cut with the sons of Israel.”
12Then he stood before the altar of Yahweh in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his palms.
13For Solomon had made a bronze platform and set it in the midst of the court—five cubits its length, five cubits its width, and three cubits its height—and he stood upon it. Then he knelt down on his knees in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his palms toward the heavens.
14He said: “Yahweh, God of Israel, there is no god like you in the heavens or on the earth, keeping the covenant and the loyal love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart.
15You who have kept for your servant David my father what you spoke to him; you spoke with your mouth, and with your hand you have fulfilled it, as it is this day.
16And now, Yahweh, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you spoke to him, saying, ‘There shall not be cut off for you a man before me sitting on the throne of Israel, if only your sons keep their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’
17And now, Yahweh, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed that you spoke to your servant, to David.
18But will God indeed dwell with humankind on the earth? Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you—how much less this house that I have built!
19Yet turn to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer that your servant is praying before you,
20that your eyes may be open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which you said you would put your name there, to listen to the prayer that your servant prays toward this place.
21And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel that they pray toward this place; may you hear from the place of your dwelling, from the heavens—hear and forgive.
22If a man sins against his neighbor and an oath is laid upon him to make him swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house,
23then may you hear from the heavens and act, and judge your servants, requiting the wicked by bringing his way upon his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving to him according to his righteousness.
24And if your people Israel are struck down before an enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn and give thanks to your name and pray and make supplication before you in this house,
25then may you hear from the heavens and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the ground that you gave to them and to their fathers.
26When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and they pray toward this place and praise your name and turn from their sin because you have humbled them,
27then may you hear in the heavens and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel—for you teach them the good way in which they should walk—and give rain on your land that you gave to your people as an inheritance.
28When there is famine in the land, when there is plague, blight, or mildew, locust or caterpillar; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their gates—any plague, any sickness—
29whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any person, or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own plague and his own pain, and he spreads out his palms toward this house,
30then may you hear from the heavens, the place of your dwelling, and forgive, and give to each man according to all his ways, since you know his heart—for you alone know the heart of the sons of humankind—
31so that they may fear you, to walk in your ways all the days that they live on the face of the land that you gave to our fathers.
32And also concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel but comes from a distant land for the sake of your great name and your strong hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this house,
33then may you hear from the heavens, from your fixed dwelling place, and act according to all that the foreigner calls out to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as does your people Israel, and know that your name is called upon this house that I have built.
34When your people go out to war against their enemies by the way you send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,
35then may you hear from the heavens their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
36When they sin against you—for there is no person who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them over before an enemy, and their captors carry them captive to a land far off or near,
37yet they take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and we have acted wickedly,’
38and they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they were carried captive, and pray toward their land that you gave to their fathers, and the city you have chosen, and the house I have built for your name,
39then may you hear from the heavens, from your fixed dwelling place, their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40Now, my God, let your eyes, I pray, be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.
41And now, arise, O Yahweh God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests, O Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation, and let your faithful ones rejoice in the good.
42O Yahweh God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one; remember the loyal deeds of David your servant.
Open in the interactive reader →