12 Then Solomon said:

The Lord said that He would dwell in thick darkness.(A)
13 I have indeed built an exalted temple(B) for You,
a place for Your dwelling forever.(C)

14 The king turned around and blessed(D) the entire congregation of Israel while they were standing. 15 He said:

May the Lord God of Israel be praised!
He spoke directly to my father David,
and He has fulfilled the promise(E) by His power.
He said,
16 “Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt,(F)
I have not chosen a city to build a temple in
among any of the tribes of Israel,
so that My name(G) would be there.
But I have chosen David to rule My people Israel.”(H)
17 It was in the desire of my father David
to build a temple for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.(I)
18 But the Lord said to my father David,
“Since it was your desire to build a temple for My name,
you have done well to have this desire.(J)
19 Yet you are not the one to build it;
instead, your son, your own offspring,
will build it for My name.”(K)
20 The Lord has fulfilled what He promised.
I have taken the place of my father David,(L)
and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised.(M)
I have built the temple for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
21 I have provided a place there for the ark,
where the Lord’s covenant is
that He made with our ancestors
when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.(N)

Solomon’s Prayer

22 Then Solomon stood(O) before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.(P) 23 He said:

Lord God of Israel,
there is no God like You
in heaven above or on earth below,(Q)
keeping the gracious covenant
with Your servants who walk before You
with their whole heart.(R)
24 You have kept what You promised
to Your servant, my father David.
You spoke directly to him
and You fulfilled Your promise by Your power
as it is today.(S)
25 Therefore, Lord God of Israel,
keep what You promised
to Your servant, my father David:
You will never fail to have a man
to sit before Me on the throne of Israel,(T)
if only your sons guard their walk before Me
as you have walked before Me.(U)
26 Now Lord[a] God of Israel,
please confirm what You promised
to Your servant, my father David.(V)

27 But will God indeed live on earth?
Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You,
much less this temple I have built.(W)
28 Listen[b] to Your servant’s prayer and his petition,(X)
Lord my God,
so that You may hear the cry and the prayer
that Your servant prays before You today,
29 so that Your eyes may watch over this temple night and day,(Y)
toward the place where You said:
My name will be there,(Z)
and so that You may hear the prayer
that Your servant prays toward this place.
30 Hear the petition of Your servant(AA)
and Your people Israel,
which they pray toward this place.(AB)
May You hear in Your dwelling place in heaven.
May You hear and forgive.

31 When a man sins against his neighbor
and is forced to take an oath,[c](AC)
and he comes to take an oath
before Your altar in this temple,
32 may You hear in heaven and act.
May You judge Your servants,
condemning the wicked man by bringing
what he has done on his own head
and providing justice for the righteous
by rewarding him according to his righteousness.(AD)

33 When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy,
because they have sinned against You,(AE)
and they return to You and praise Your name,
and they pray and plead with You
for mercy in this temple,
34 may You hear in heaven
and forgive the sin of Your people Israel.
May You restore them to the land
You gave their ancestors.(AF)

35 When the skies are shut and there is no rain,
because they have sinned against You,(AG)
and they pray toward this place
and praise Your name,
and they turn from their sins
because You are afflicting them,(AH)
36 may You hear in heaven
and forgive the sin of Your servants
and Your people Israel,
so that You may teach them the good way
they should walk in.(AI)
May You send rain on Your land
that You gave Your people for an inheritance.(AJ)

37 When there is famine on the earth,
when there is pestilence,
when there is blight, mildew, locust, or grasshopper,(AK)
when their enemy besieges them
in the region of their fortified cities,[d]
when there is any plague or illness,
38 whatever prayer or petition
anyone from Your people Israel might have—
each man knowing his own afflictions[e](AL)
and spreading out his hands toward this temple(AM)
39 may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,
and may You forgive, act, and repay the man,
according to all his ways, since You know his heart,
for You alone know every human heart,(AN)
40 so that they may fear(AO) You
all the days they live on the land(AP)
You gave our ancestors.

41 Even for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel
but has come from a distant land(AQ)
because of Your name—
42 for they will hear of Your great name,
mighty hand,(AR) and outstretched arm,
and will come(AS) and pray toward this temple—
43 may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,
and do according to all the foreigner asks You for.
Then all the people on earth will know(AT) Your name,
to fear You as Your people Israel do
and know that this temple I have built
is called by Your name.

44 When Your people go out to fight against their enemies,[f]
wherever You send them,
and they pray to Yahweh
in the direction of the city You have chosen(AU)
and the temple I have built for Your name,
45 may You hear their prayer and petition in heaven
and uphold their cause.(AV)

46 When they sin against You—
for there is no one who does not sin(AW)
and You are angry with them
and hand them over to the enemy,
and their captors deport them to the enemy’s country(AX)
whether distant or nearby—
47 and when they come to their senses[g]
in the land where they were deported
and repent and petition You in their captors’ land:
“We have sinned and done wrong;
we have been wicked,”(AY)
48 and when they return to You with their whole mind and heart
in the land of their enemies who took them captive,(AZ)
and when they pray to You in the direction of their land
that You gave their ancestors,
the city You have chosen,(BA)
and the temple I have built for Your name,
49 may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,
their prayer and petition and uphold their cause.
50 May You forgive Your people
who sinned against You
and all their rebellions[h] against You,
and may You give them compassion
in the eyes of their captors,
so that they may be compassionate to them.(BB)
51 For they are Your people and Your inheritance;(BC)
You brought them out of Egypt,
out of the middle of an iron furnace.(BD)
52 May Your eyes be open to Your servant’s petition
and to the petition of Your people Israel,
listening to them whenever they call to You.
53 For You, Lord God, have set them apart as Your inheritance
from all the people on earth,
as You spoke through Your servant Moses
when You brought their ancestors out of Egypt.(BE)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:26 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg, 2Ch 6:16; other Hb mss omit Lord
  2. 1 Kings 8:28 Lit Turn
  3. 1 Kings 8:31 Lit and he lifts a curse against him to curse him
  4. 1 Kings 8:37 Lit besieges him in the land of his gates
  5. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit knowing in his heart of a plague
  6. 1 Kings 8:44 Some Hb mss, some ancient versions, 2Ch 6:34; other Hb mss read enemy
  7. 1 Kings 8:47 Lit they return to their heart
  8. 1 Kings 8:50 Lit rebellions that they have rebelled

12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;(A) 13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell(B) forever.”

14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed(C) them. 15 Then he said:

“Praise be to the Lord,(D) the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, 16 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt,(E) I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name(F) might be there, but I have chosen(G) David(H) to rule my people Israel.’

17 “My father David had it in his heart(I) to build a temple(J) for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 19 Nevertheless, you(K) 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.’(L)

20 “The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded(M) David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built(N) the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(O)

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands(P) toward heaven 23 and said:

Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like(Q) you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love(R) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

25 “Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises(S) you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail 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 faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised(T) your servant David my father come true.

27 “But will God really dwell(U) on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven,(V) cannot contain(W) you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open(X) toward(Y) this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name(Z) shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray(AA) toward this place. Hear(AB) from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.(AC)

31 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath(AD) before your altar in this temple, 32 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.(AE)

33 “When your people Israel have been defeated(AF) by an enemy because they have sinned(AG) against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,(AH) 34 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.

35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(AI) because your people have sinned(AJ) 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, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach(AK) them the right way(AL) to live, and send rain(AM) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

37 “When famine(AN) or plague(AO) comes to the land, or blight(AP) or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers,(AQ) or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands(AR) toward this temple— 39 then hear(AS) from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive(AT) and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know(AU) their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), 40 so that they will fear(AV) you all the time they live in the land(AW) you gave our ancestors.

41 “As for the foreigner(AX) who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear(AY) of your great name and your mighty hand(AZ) and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know(BA) your name and fear(BB) you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.(BC)

44 “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray(BD) to the Lord toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 45 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.(BE)

46 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin(BF)—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive(BG) to their own lands, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead(BH) with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’;(BI) 48 and if they turn back(BJ) to you with all their heart(BK) and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray(BL) to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple(BM) I have built for your Name;(BN) 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy;(BO) 51 for they are your people and your inheritance,(BP) whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.(BQ)

52 “May your eyes be open(BR) to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you.(BS) 53 For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance,(BT) just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”

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