New International Version | New Living Translation |
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. | 1 King Hiram of Tyre had always been a loyal friend of David. When Hiram learned that David’s son Solomon was the new king of Israel, he sent ambassadors to congratulate him. |
2Solomon sent back this message to Hiram: | 2Then Solomon sent this message back to Hiram: |
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. | 3“You know that my father, David, was not able to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD his God because of the many wars waged against him by surrounding nations. He could not build until the LORD gave him victory over all his enemies. |
4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. | 4But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well. |
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.' | 5So I am planning to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD my God, just as he had instructed my father, David. For the LORD told him, ‘Your son, whom I will place on your throne, will build the Temple to honor my name.’ |
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." | 6“Therefore, please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians!” |
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." | 7When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he was very pleased and said, “Praise the LORD today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel.” |
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. | 8Then he sent this reply to Solomon: “I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need. |
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." | 9My servants will bring the logs from the Lebanon mountains to the Mediterranean Sea and make them into rafts and float them along the coast to whatever place you choose. Then we will break the rafts apart so you can carry the logs away. You can pay me by supplying me with food for my household.” |
10In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, | 10So Hiram supplied as much cedar and cypress timber as Solomon desired. |
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. | 11In return, Solomon sent him an annual payment of 100,000 bushels of wheat for his household and 110,000 gallons of pure olive oil. |
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. | 12So the LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he had promised. And Hiram and Solomon made a formal alliance of peace. |
13King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel--thirty thousand men. | 13Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. |
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. | 14He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 every month, so that each man would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of this labor force. |
15Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills, | 15Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers, 80,000 quarry workers in the hill country, |
16as well as thirty-three hundred foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers. | 16and 3,600 foremen to supervise the work. |
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. | 17At the king’s command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation 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. | 18Men from the city of Gebal helped Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders prepare the timber and stone for the Temple. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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