| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father's place. (Hiram had always been an ally of David.) | 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. |
| 2Solomon then sent this message to Hiram: | 2And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram: |
| 3"You know that my father David was unable to build a temple to honor the LORD his God, for he was busy fighting battles on all fronts while the LORD subdued his enemies. | 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. |
| 4But now the LORD my God has made me secure on all fronts; there is no adversary or dangerous threat. | 4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis. |
| 5So I have decided to build a temple to honor the LORD my God, as the LORD instructed my father David, 'Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, is the one who will build a temple to honor me.' | 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.’ |
| 6So now order some cedars of Lebanon to be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants. I will pay your servants whatever you say is appropriate, for you know that we have no one among us who knows how to cut down trees like the Sidonians." | 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.” |
| 7When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was very happy. He said, "The LORD is worthy of praise today because he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation." | 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!” |
| 8Hiram then sent this message to Solomon: "I received the message you sent to me. I will give you all the cedars and evergreens you need. | 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. |
| 9My servants will bring the timber down from Lebanon to the sea. I will send it by sea in raft-like bundles to the place you designate. There I will separate the logs and you can carry them away. In exchange you will supply the food I need for my royal court." | 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.” |
| 10So Hiram supplied the cedars and evergreens Solomon needed, | 10So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted, |
| 11and Solomon supplied Hiram annually with 20,000 cors of wheat as provision for his royal court, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil. | 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. |
| 12So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and made a treaty. | 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. |
| 13King Solomon conscripted work crews from throughout Israel, 30,000 men in all. | 13Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. |
| 14He sent them to Lebanon in shifts of 10,000 men per month. They worked in Lebanon for one month, and then spent two months at home. Adoniram was supervisor of the work crews. | 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. |
| 15Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, | 15Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, |
| 16besides 3,300 officials who supervised the workers. | 16not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers. |
| 17By royal order they supplied large valuable stones in order to build the temple's foundation with chiseled stone. | 17And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. |
| 18Solomon's and Hiram's construction workers, along with men from Byblos, did the chiseling and prepared the wood and stones for the building of 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. |
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