| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 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.) | 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. |
| 2Solomon then sent this message to Hiram: | 2Solomon sent back 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"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 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 disaster. |
| 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.' | 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.' |
| 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." | 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 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 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." |
| 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. | 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 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 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 supplied the cedars and evergreens Solomon needed, | 10In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs 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 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. |
| 12So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and 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. |
| 13King Solomon conscripted work crews from throughout Israel, 30,000 men in all. | 13King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel--thirty thousand men. |
| 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 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 also had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, | 15Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills, |
| 16besides 3,300 officials who supervised the workers. | 16as well as thirty-three hundred foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers. |
| 17By royal order they supplied large valuable stones in order to build the temple's foundation with chiseled stone. | 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. |
| 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. | 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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