1
Now Shlomo purposed to build a house for the name of the LORD, and a house for his kingdom.
2
Shlomo counted out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand men who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
3
Shlomo sent to Huram the king of Tzor, saying, As you did deal with David my father, and did send him cedars to build him a house to dwell therein, [even so deal with me].
4
Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual show bread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Shabbatot, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of the LORD our God. This is [an ordinance] forever to Yisra'el.
5
The house which I build is great; for great is our God above all gods.
6
But who is able to build him a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense before him?
7
Now therefore send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave [all manner of] engravings, [to be] with the skillful men who are with me in Yehudah and in Yerushalayim, whom David my father did provide.
8
Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Levanon; for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Levanon: and, behold, my servants shall be with your servants,
9
even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.