| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David. | 1When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. |
| 2And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram: | 2Solomon sent back this message to Hiram: |
| 3“As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. | 3"You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet. |
| 4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis. | 4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. |
| 5So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’ | 5I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God, as the LORD told my father David, when he said, 'Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.' |
| 6Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.” | 6"So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians." |
| 7When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!” | 7When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was greatly pleased and said, "Praise be to the LORD today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation." |
| 8Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying: “I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber. | 8So Hiram sent word to Solomon: "I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs. |
| 9My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.” | 9My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household." |
| 10So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted, | 10In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, |
| 11and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil. | 11and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year. |
| 12And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty. | 12The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty. |
| 13Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. | 13King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel--thirty thousand men. |
| 14He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. | 14He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. |
| 15Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, | 15Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills, |
| 16not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers. | 16as well as thirty-three hundred foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers. |
| 17And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. | 17At the king's command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple. |
| 18So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple. | 18The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple. |
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