| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always loved David. | 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.) |
| 2Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying: | 2Solomon then sent this message to Hiram: |
| 3You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the LORD put his foes under the soles of his feet. | 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. |
| 4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence. | 4But now the LORD my God has made me secure on all fronts; there is no adversary or dangerous threat. |
| 5And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to my father David, saying, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.” | 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.' |
| 6Now therefore, command that they cut down cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know there is none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians. | 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." |
| 7So it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people! | 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." |
| 8Then Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have considered the message which you sent me, and I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs. | 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. |
| 9My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can take them away. And you shall fulfill my desire by giving food for my household. | 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." |
| 10Then Hiram gave Solomon cedar and cypress logs according to all his desire. | 10So Hiram supplied the cedars and evergreens Solomon needed, |
| 11And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year. | 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. |
| 12So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together. | 12So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and made a treaty. |
| 13Then King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men. | 13King Solomon conscripted work crews from throughout Israel, 30,000 men in all. |
| 14And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the labor force. | 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. |
| 15Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried stone in the mountains, | 15Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, |
| 16besides three thousand three hundred from the chiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work. | 16besides 3,300 officials who supervised the workers. |
| 17And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple. | 17By royal order they supplied large valuable stones in order to build the temple's foundation with chiseled stone. |
| 18So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried them; and they prepared timber and stones to build 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. |
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