6
1 Then
Solomon said, “The
LORD has said that
he would dwell
in the thick
darkness.
2 But I
have built you
a house and
home, a place
for you to
dwell in forever.”
3 The
king turned his
face, and blessed
all the assembly
of Israel; and
all the assembly
of Israel stood.
4 He
said, “Blessed be
the LORD, the
God of Israel,
who spoke with
his mouth to
David my father,
and has with
his hands
fulfilled it,
saying,
5 ‘Since
the day that
I brought my
people out of
the land of Egypt,
I chose no city
out of all
the tribes of
Israel to build
a house in,
that my name
might be there,
and I chose no
man to be
prince over my
people Israel;
6 but
now I have chosen
Jerusalem, that my
name might be
there; and I
have chosen David
to be over
my people Israel.’
7 Now
it was in
the heart of
David my father to
build a house
for the name
of the LORD,
the God of
Israel.
8 But
the LORD said to
David my father, ‘Whereas
it was in
your heart to
build a house
for my name,
you did well
that it was
in your heart;
9 nevertheless
you shall not
build the house,
but your son
who will come
out of your body,
he shall build
the house for
my name.’
10 “The
LORD has performed
his word that
he spoke; for
I have risen
up in the
place of David
my father, and sit
on the throne
of Israel, as
the LORD promised,
and have built
the house for
the name of
the LORD, the
God of Israel.
11 There
I have set
the ark, in which
is the LORD’s
covenant, which he
made with the
children of
Israel.”
12 He
stood before the
LORD’s altar in
the presence of
all the assembly
of Israel, and
spread out his
hands
13 (for
Solomon had made
a bronze platform,
five cubits
long, five cubits
wide, and three
cubits high, and
had set it
in the middle
of the court;
and he stood
on it, and
knelt down on
his knees before
all the assembly
of Israel, and
spread out his
hands toward
heaven).
14 Then
he said, “LORD,
the God of
Israel, there is
no God like
you in heaven
or on earth—you
who keep covenant
and loving kindness
with your servants
who walk before
you with all
their heart;
15 who
have kept with
your servant David
my father that
which you promised
him. Yes, you
spoke with your
mouth, and have
fulfilled it with
your hand, as
it is today.
16 “Now
therefore, LORD,
the God of
Israel, keep with
your servant David
my father that
which you have
promised him,
saying, ‘There
shall not fail
you a man
in my sight
to sit on
the throne of
Israel, if only
your children take
heed to their
way, to walk
in my law
as you have
walked before me.’
17 Now
therefore, LORD,
the God of
Israel, let your
word be verified,
which you spoke
to your servant
David.
18 “But
will God indeed
dwell with men on
the earth? Behold,
heaven and the
heaven of heavens
can’t contain you;
how much less
this house which
I have built!
19 Yet
have respect for
the prayer of
your servant and
to his
supplication, LORD
my God, to
listen to the
cry and to
the prayer which
your servant prays
before you;
20 that
your eyes may
be open toward
this house day
and night,
even toward the
place where you
have said that
you would put
your name, to
listen to the
prayer which your
servant will
pray toward this
place.
21 Listen
to the petitions
of your servant
and of your
people Israel,
when they pray
toward this place.
Yes, hear from
your dwelling
place, even from
heaven; and when
you hear, forgive.
22 “If
a man sins
against his
neighbor, and
an oath is laid
on him to cause
him to swear,
and he comes
and swears before
your altar in
this house,
23 then
hear from heaven,
act, and judge
your servants,
bringing retribution to
the wicked, to
bring his way
on his own head;
and justifying the
righteous, to give
him according to
his righteousness.
24 “If
your people Israel
are struck down
before the enemy
because they have
sinned against you,
and they turn
again and confess
your name, and
pray and make
supplication before
you in this
house,
25 then
hear from heaven,
and forgive the
sin of your
people Israel, and
bring them again
to the land
which you gave
to them and
to their fathers.
26 “When
the sky is
shut up and
there is no
rain because they
have sinned
against you, if
they pray toward
this place and
confess your name,
and turn from
their sin when
you afflict them,
27 then
hear in heaven,
and forgive the
sin of your
servants, your
people Israel,
when you teach
them the good
way in which
they should walk,
and send rain
on your land,
which you have
given to your
people for an
inheritance.
28 “If
there is famine
in the land, if
there is
pestilence, if
there is blight
or mildew, locust
or caterpillar; if
their enemies besiege
them in the land
of their cities;
whatever plague or
whatever sickness
there is—
29 whatever
prayer and
supplication is
made by any
man, or by
all your people
Israel, who will
each know his
own plague and
his own sorrow,
and shall spread
out his hands
toward this house,
30 then
hear from heaven
your dwelling
place and forgive,
and render to
every man
according to all
his ways, whose
heart you know (for
you, even you
only, know the
hearts of the
children of men),
31 that
they may fear
you, to walk
in your ways
as long as
they live in
the land which
you gave to
our fathers.
32 “Moreover,
concerning the
foreigner, who is
not of your
people Israel,
when he comes from
a far country for
your great name’s
sake and your
mighty hand and
your outstretched
arm, when they
come and pray
toward this house,
33 then
hear from heaven,
even from your
dwelling place,
and do according
to all that
the foreigner
calls to you
for; that all
the peoples of
the earth may
know your name
and fear you,
as do your
people Israel, and
that they may
know that this
house which I
have built is
called by your
name.
34 “If
your people go
out to battle
against their enemies,
by whatever way
you send them,
and they pray
to you toward
this city which
you have chosen,
and the house
which I have
built for your
name;
35 then
hear from heaven
their prayer and
their supplication,
and maintain their
cause.
36 “If
they sin against
you (for there
is no man
who doesn’t sin),
and you are angry
with them and
deliver them to
the enemy, so that
they carry them
away captive to
a land far
off or near;
37 yet
if they come
to their senses in
the land where
they are carried
captive, and turn
again, and make
supplication to
you in the land
of their captivity,
saying, ‘We have
sinned, we have
done perversely,
and have dealt
wickedly;’
38 if they
return to you
with all their
heart and with
all their soul
in the land of
their captivity,
where they have
been taken captive,
and pray toward
their land which
you gave to
their fathers, and
the city which
you have chosen,
and toward the
house which I
have built for
your name;
39 then
hear from heaven,
even from your
dwelling place,
their prayer and
their petitions, and
maintain their
cause, and forgive
your people who
have sinned
against you.
40 “Now,
my God, let, I
beg you, your
eyes be open,
and let your ears
be attentive to
the prayer that
is made in
this place.
41 “Now
therefore arise,
LORD God, into
your resting place,
you, and the ark
of your strength.
Let your priests,
LORD God, be
clothed with
salvation, and let
your saints
rejoice in
goodness.
42 “LORD
God, don’t turn
away the face
of your anointed.
Remember your loving
kindnesses to
David your
servant.”