13
(Solomon had made a bronze platform 7½ feet long, 7½ feet wide, and 4½ feet high. He put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on the platform, knelt in front of the entire assembly, and stretched out his hands toward heaven.)
14
He said, "LORD God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your promise of mercy to your servants, who obey you wholeheartedly.
15
You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant. With your mouth you promised it. With your hand you carried it out as it is today.
16
"Now, LORD God of Israel, keep your promise to my father David, your servant. You said, 'You will never fail to have an heir sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel if your descendants are faithful to me as you have been faithful to me.'
17
"So now, LORD God of Israel, may the promise you made to David, your servant, come true.
18
"Does God really live on earth with people? If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you, then how can this temple that I have built?
19
Nevertheless, my LORD God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy. Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you.
20
Day and night may your eyes be on this temple, the place about which you said your name will be there. Listen to me as I pray toward this place.
21
Hear the plea for mercy that your people Israel and I pray toward this place. Hear us in heaven, the place where you live. Hear and forgive.
22
"If anyone sins against another person and is required to take an oath and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,
23
then hear [that person] in heaven, take action, and make a decision. Repay the guilty person with the proper punishment, but declare the innocent person innocent.