Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 Then King Solomon summoned all the leaders of the tribes and clans of Israel to come to him in Jerusalem in order to take the Lord's Covenant Box from Zion, David's City, to the Temple.
1
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers' [houses] of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.
2 They all assembled during the Festival of Shelters in the seventh month, in the month of Ethanim.
2
All the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
3 When all the leaders had gathered, the priests lifted the Covenant Box
3
All the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
4 and carried it to the Temple. The Levites and the priests also moved the Tent of the Lord's presence and all its equipment to the Temple.
4
They brought up the ark of Yahweh, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; even these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
5 King Solomon and all the people of Israel assembled in front of the Covenant Box and sacrificed a large number of sheep and cattle - too many to count.
5
King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.
6 Then the priests carried the Covenant Box into the Temple and put it in the Most Holy Place, beneath the winged creatures.
6
The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
7 Their outstretched wings covered the box and the poles it was carried by.
7
For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the poles of it above.
8 The ends of the poles could be seen by anyone standing directly in front of the Most Holy Place, but from nowhere else. (The poles are still there today.)
8
The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the oracle; but they were not seen outside: and there they are to this day.
9 There was nothing inside the Covenant Box except the two stone tablets which Moses had placed there at Mount Sinai, when the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel as they were coming from Egypt.
9
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
10 As the priests were leaving the Temple, it was suddenly filled with a cloud
10
It came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Yahweh,
11 shining with the dazzling light of the Lord's presence, and they could not go back in to perform their duties.
11
so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh.
12 Then Solomon prayed: "You, Lord, have placed the sun in the sky, yet you have chosen to live in clouds and darkness.
12
Then spoke Solomon, Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
13 Now I have built a majestic temple for you, a place for you to live in forever."
13
I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.
14 As the people stood there, King Solomon turned to face them, and he asked God's blessing on them.
14
The king turned his face about, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.
15 He said, "Praise the Lord God of Israel! He has kept the promise he made to my father David, when he told him,
15
He said, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David your father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying,
16 "From the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen any city in all the land of Israel in which a temple should be built where I would be worshiped. But I chose you, David, to rule my people.' "
16
Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that my name might be there; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.
17 And Solomon continued, "My father David planned to build a temple for the worship of the Lord God of Israel,
17
Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
18 but the Lord said to him, "You were right in wanting to build a temple for me,
18
But Yahweh said to David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart:
19 but you will never build it. It is your son, your own son, who will build my temple.'
19
nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for my name.
20 "And now the Lord has kept his promise. I have succeeded my father as king of Israel, and I have built the Temple for the worship of the Lord God of Israel.
20
Yahweh has established his word that he spoke; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
21 I have also provided a place in the Temple for the Covenant Box containing the stone tablets of the covenant which the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt."
21
There have I set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
22 Then in the presence of the people Solomon went and stood in front of the altar, where he raised his arms
22
Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;
23 and prayed, "Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you.
23
and he said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keep covenant and lovingkindness with your servants, who walk before you with all their heart;
24 You have kept the promise you made to my father David; today every word has been fulfilled.
24
who have kept with your servant David my father that which you did promise him: yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day.
25 And now, Lord God of Israel, I pray that you will also keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him that there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided they obeyed you as carefully as he did.
25
Now therefore, Yahweh, the 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 on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.
26 So now, O God of Israel, let everything come true that you promised to my father David, your servant.
26
Now therefore, God of Israel, Please let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David my father.
27 "But can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even all of heaven is large enough to hold you, so how can this Temple that I have built be large enough?
27
But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
28 Lord my God, I am your servant. Listen to my prayer, and grant the requests I make to you today.
28
Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant, and for his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you this day;
29 Watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have chosen to be worshiped. Hear me when I face this Temple and pray.
29
that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place whereof you have said, My name shall be there; to listen to the prayer which your servant shall pray toward this place.
30 Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people when they face this place and pray. In your home in heaven hear us and forgive us.
30
Listen you to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yes, hear in heaven, your dwelling-place; and when you hear, forgive.
31 "When a person is accused of wronging another and is brought to your altar in this Temple to take an oath that he is innocent,
31
If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid on him to cause him to swear, and he come [and] swear before your altar in this house;
32 O Lord, listen in heaven and judge your servants. Punish the guilty one as he deserves, and acquit the one who is innocent.
32
then hear you in heaven, and do, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
33 "When your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and then when they turn to you and come to this Temple, humbly praying to you for forgiveness,
33
When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; if they turn again to you, and confess your name, and pray and make supplication to you in this house:
34 listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your people and bring them back to the land which you gave to their ancestors.
34
then hear you in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to their fathers.
35 "When you hold back the rain because your people have sinned against you, and then when they repent and face this Temple, humbly praying to you,
35
When the sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you do afflict them:
36 listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of the king and of the people of Israel, and teach them to do what is right. Then, O Lord, send rain on this land of yours, which you gave to your people as a permanent possession.
36
then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.
37 "When there is famine in the land or an epidemic or the crops are destroyed by scorching winds or swarms of locusts, or when your people are attacked by their enemies, or when there is disease or sickness among them,
37
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting [or] mildew, locust [or] caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there be;
38 listen to their prayers. If any of your people Israel, out of heartfelt sorrow, stretch out their hands in prayer toward this Temple,
38
whatever prayer and supplication be made by any man, [or] by all your people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
39 hear their prayer. Listen to them in your home in heaven, forgive them, and help them. You alone know the thoughts of the human heart. Deal with each person as he deserves,
39
then hear in heaven, your dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men;)
40 so that your people may obey you all the time they live in the land which you gave to our ancestors.
40
that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.
41 "When a foreigner who lives in a distant land hears of your fame and of the great things you have done for your people and comes to worship you and to pray at this Temple,
41
Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for your name's sake
43 listen to his prayer. In heaven, where you live, hear him and do what he asks you to do, so that all the peoples of the world may know you and obey you, as your people Israel do. Then they will know that this Temple I have built is the place where you are to be worshiped.
43
hear in heaven, your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, to fear you, as does your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by my name.
44 "When you command your people to go into battle against their enemies and they pray to you, wherever they are, facing this city which you have chosen and this Temple which I have built for you,
44
If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to Yahweh toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name;
45 listen to their prayers. Hear them in heaven and give them victory.
45
then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
46 "When your people sin against you - and there is no one who does not sin - and in your anger you let their enemies defeat them and take them as prisoners to some other land, even if that land is far away,
46
If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn't sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;
47 listen to your people's prayers. If there in that land they repent and pray to you, confessing how sinful and wicked they have been, hear their prayers, O Lord.
47
yet if they shall repent themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;
48 If in that land they truly and sincerely repent and pray to you as they face toward this land which you gave to our ancestors, this city which you have chosen, and this Temple which I have built for you,
48
if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name:
49 then listen to their prayers. In your home in heaven hear them and be merciful to them.
49
then hear you their prayer and their supplication in heaven, your dwelling-place, and maintain their cause;
50 Forgive all their sins and their rebellion against you, and make their enemies treat them with kindness.
50
and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them
51 They are your own people, whom you brought out of Egypt, that blazing furnace.
51
(for they are your people, and your inheritance, which you brought forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron);
52 "Sovereign Lord, may you always look with favor on your people Israel and their king, and hear their prayer whenever they call to you for help.
52
that 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 cry to you.
53 You chose them from all the peoples to be your own people, as you told them through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt."
53
For you did separate them from among all the peoples of the earth, to be your inheritance, as you spoke by Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh.
54 After Solomon had finished praying to the Lord, he stood up in front of the altar, where he had been kneeling with uplifted hands.
54
It was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication to Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.
55 In a loud voice he asked God's blessings on all the people assembled there. He said,
55
He stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
56 "Praise the Lord who has given his people peace, as he promised he would. He has kept all the generous promises he made through his servant Moses.
56
Blessed be Yahweh, who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there has not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his servant.
57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us;
57
Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us;
58 may he make us obedient to him, so that we will always live as he wants us to live, keeping all the laws and commands he gave our ancestors.
58
that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers.
59 May the Lord our God remember at all times this prayer and these petitions I have made to him. May he always be merciful to the people of Israel and to their king, according to their daily needs.
59
Let these my words, with which I have made supplication before Yahweh, be near to Yahweh our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as every day shall require;
60 And so all the nations of the world will know that the Lord alone is God - there is no other.
60
that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh, he is God; there is none else.
61 May you, his people, always be faithful to the Lord our God, obeying all his laws and commands as you do today."
61
Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
62 Then King Solomon and all the people there offered sacrifices to the Lord.
62
The king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before Yahweh.
63 He sacrificed 22,000 head of cattle and 120,000 sheep as fellowship offerings. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple.
63
Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he offered to Yahweh, two and twenty thousand oxen, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of Yahweh.
64 That same day he also consecrated the central part of the courtyard, the area in front of the Temple, and then he offered there the sacrifices burned whole, the grain offerings, and the fat of the animals for the fellowship offerings. He did this because the bronze altar was too small for all these offerings.
64
The same day did the king make the middle of the court holy that was before the house of Yahweh; for there he offered the burnt offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar that was before Yahweh was too little to receive the burnt offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat of the peace-offerings.
65 There at the Temple, Solomon and all the people of Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters for seven days. There was a huge crowd of people from as far away as Hamath Pass in the north and the Egyptian border in the south.
65
So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
66 On the eighth day Solomon sent the people home. They all praised him and went home happy because of all the blessings that the Lord had given his servant David and his people Israel.
66
On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David his servant, and to Israel his people.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.