| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes—the leaders of the ancestral families of the Israelites. They were to bring the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion. | 1At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David. |
| 2So all the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn in the month of Ethanim. | 2And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim. |
| 3When all the elders of Israel arrived, the priests picked up the Ark. | 3When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, |
| 4The priests and Levites brought up the Ark of the LORD along with the special tent and all the sacred items that had been in it. | 4and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. So the priests and Levites carried them up. |
| 5There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle that no one could keep count! | 5There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. |
| 6Then the priests carried the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim. | 6Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. |
| 7The cherubim spread their wings over the Ark, forming a canopy over the Ark and its carrying poles. | 7For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles. |
| 8These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place, which is in front of the Most Holy Place, but not from the outside. They are still there to this day. | 8The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day. |
| 9Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left the land of Egypt. | 9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of the land of Egypt. |
| 10When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. | 10And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD |
| 11The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of the LORD. Solomon Praises the LORD | 11so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. |
| 12Then Solomon prayed, “O LORD, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness. | 12Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. |
| 13Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever! ” | 13I have indeed built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.” |
| 14Then the king turned around to the entire community of Israel standing before him and gave this blessing: | 14And as the whole assembly of Israel stood there, the king turned around and blessed them all |
| 15“Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father, David. For he told my father, | 15and said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying, |
| 16‘From the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name. But I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.’” | 16‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ |
| 17Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. | 17Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. |
| 18But the LORD told him, ‘You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, | 18But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart. |
| 19but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’ | 19Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it; but your son, your own offspring, will build the house for My Name.’ |
| 20“And now the LORD has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. | 20Now the LORD has fulfilled the word that He spoke. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. |
| 21And I have prepared a place there for the Ark, which contains the covenant that the LORD made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.” Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication | 21And there I have provided a place for the ark, which contains the covenant of the LORD that He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.” |
| 22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven, | 22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, |
| 23and he prayed, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. | 23and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. |
| 24You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today. | 24You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day. |
| 25“And now, O LORD, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow me as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ | 25Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’ |
| 26Now, O God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David, my father. | 26And now, O God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant, my father David. |
| 27“But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! | 27But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built. |
| 28Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today. | 28Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today. |
| 29May you watch over this Temple night and day, this place where you have said, ‘My name will be there.’ May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. | 29May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. |
| 30May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive. | 30Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive. |
| 31“If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar in this Temple, | 31When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple, |
| 32then hear from heaven and judge between your servants—the accuser and the accused. Punish the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence. | 32then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness. |
| 33“If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn to you and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple, | 33When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading with You in this temple, |
| 34then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave their ancestors. | 34then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to their fathers. |
| 35“If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them, | 35When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them, |
| 36then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as their special possession. | 36then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance. |
| 37“If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people’s enemies are in the land besieging their towns—whatever disaster or disease there is— | 37When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemy besieges them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come, |
| 38and if your people Israel pray about their troubles, raising their hands toward this Temple, | 38then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple— |
| 39then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive. Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart. | 39be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men— |
| 40Then they will fear you as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors. | 40so that they may fear You all the days they live in the land that You gave to our fathers. |
| 41“In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name, | 41And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name— |
| 42for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple, | 42for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, |
| 43then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name. | 43then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name. |
| 44“If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to the LORD by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name, | 44When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name, |
| 45then hear their prayers from heaven and uphold their cause. | 45then may You hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and may You uphold their cause. |
| 46“If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near. | 46When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near, |
| 47But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’ | 47and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’ |
| 48If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name— | 48and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, |
| 49then hear their prayers and their petition from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. | 49then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. |
| 50Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the offenses they have committed against you. Make their captors merciful to them, | 50May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy. |
| 51for they are your people—your special possession—whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt. | 51For they are Your people and Your inheritance; You brought them out of Egypt, out of the furnace for iron. |
| 52“May your eyes be open to my requests and to the requests of your people Israel. May you hear and answer them whenever they cry out to you. | 52May Your eyes be open to the pleas of Your servant and of Your people Israel, and may You listen to them whenever they call to You. |
| 53For when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, O Sovereign LORD, you told your servant Moses that you had set Israel apart from all the nations of the earth to be your own special possession.” The Dedication of the Temple | 53For You, O Lord GOD, as Your inheritance, have set them apart from all the peoples of the earth, as You spoke through Your servant Moses when You brought our fathers out of Egypt.” |
| 54When Solomon finished making these prayers and petitions to the LORD, he stood up in front of the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands raised toward heaven. | 54Now when Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the LORD, he got up before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. |
| 55He stood and in a loud voice blessed the entire congregation of Israel: | 55And he stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying: |
| 56“Praise the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses. | 56“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses. |
| 57May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. | 57May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He never leave us nor forsake us. |
| 58May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors. | 58May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances He commanded our fathers. |
| 59And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the LORD be before him constantly, day and night, so that the LORD our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day’s needs. | 59And may these words with which I have made my petition before the LORD be near to the LORD our God day and night, so that He may uphold the cause of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires, |
| 60Then people all over the earth will know that the LORD alone is God and there is no other. | 60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God. There is no other! |
| 61And may you be completely faithful to the LORD our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today.” | 61So let your heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God, as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments.” |
| 62Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to the LORD. | 62Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD. |
| 63Solomon offered to the LORD a peace offering of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the Temple of the LORD. | 63And Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the LORD. |
| 64That same day the king consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the LORD’s Temple. He offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar in the LORD’s presence was too small to hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings. | 64On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar before the LORD was too small to contain all these offerings. |
| 65Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters in the presence of the LORD our God. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south. The celebration went on for fourteen days in all—seven days for the dedication of the altar and seven days for the Festival of Shelters. | 65So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast before the LORD our God for seven days and seven more days—fourteen days in all. |
| 66After the festival was over, Solomon sent the people home. They blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad because the LORD had been good to his servant David and to his people Israel. | 66On the fifteenth day Solomon sent the people away. So they blessed the king and went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things that the LORD had done for His servant David and for His people Israel. |
|
