^aEntonces Salomón reunió a los ancianos de Israel, a todos los jefes de las tribus y a los principales de las casas paternas^1b de los hijos de Israel ante él² en Jerusalén, para hacer subir el arca del pacto del SEÑOR de la ciudad de David^c, la cual es Sión^d. 2 Y se reunieron ante el rey Salomón todos los hombres de Israel en la fiesta, en el mes de Etanim, que es el mes séptimo^a. 3 Cuando llegaron todos los ancianos de Israel, los sacerdotes alzaron el arca^a. 4 Subieron el arca del SEÑOR, la tienda de reunión^a y todos los utensilios sagrados que estaban en la tienda; los sacerdotes y los levitas los subieron. 5 Y el rey Salomón y toda la congregación de Israel que estaba reunida ante él, estaban con él delante del arca, sacrificando tantas ovejas y bueyes^a que no se podían contar ni numerar¹. 6 Entonces los sacerdotes trajeron el arca^a del pacto del SEÑOR a su lugar, al santuario interior de la casa^b, al lugar santísimo, bajo las alas de los querubines^c. 7 Porque los querubines extendían las alas sobre el lugar del arca, y los querubines cubrían el arca y sus barras por encima. 8 Pero las barras^a eran tan largas que los extremos de las barras se podían ver desde el lugar santo, que estaba delante del santuario interior, mas no se podían ver desde afuera; y allí están hasta hoy. 9 En el arca no había más que las dos tablas de piedra que Moisés puso allí en Horeb, donde el SEÑOR hizo pacto^a con los hijos de Israel cuando salieron de la tierra de Egipto. 10 ^aY sucedió que cuando los sacerdotes salieron del lugar santo, la nube llenó la casa del SEÑOR 11 y los sacerdotes no pudieron quedarse a ministrar a causa de la nube, porque la gloria del SEÑOR llenaba la casa del SEÑOR.

12 ^aEntonces Salomón dijo:El SEÑOR ha dicho que Él moraría en la densa nube^b.

14 Después el rey se volvió¹ y bendijo a toda la asamblea de Israel, mientras toda la asamblea de Israel estaba de pie^a, 15 y dijo: Bendito sea el SEÑOR, Dios de Israel^a, que habló por su boca a mi padre David^b y por su mano lo ha cumplido, cuando dijo: 16 «Desde el día en que saqué a mi pueblo Israel de Egipto, no escogí ninguna ciudad de entre todas las tribus de Israel en la cual edificar una casa para que mi nombre estuviera allí^a, mas escogí a David para que estuviera sobre mi pueblo Israel^b». 17 Y mi padre David tuvo en su¹ corazón edificar una casa al nombre del SEÑOR^a, Dios de Israel. 18 Pero el SEÑOR dijo a mi padre David: «Por cuanto tuviste en¹ tu corazón edificar una casa a mi nombre, bien hiciste en desearlo en² tu corazón. 19 Sin embargo, tú no edificarás la casa, sino que tu hijo que te nacerá¹, él edificará la casa a mi nombre^a». 20 Ahora el SEÑOR ha cumplido la palabra que había dicho, pues yo me he levantado en lugar de mi padre David y me he sentado en el trono de Israel, como el SEÑOR prometió^1a, y he edificado la casa al nombre del SEÑOR, Dios de Israel. 21 Y he puesto allí un lugar para el arca, en la cual está el pacto del SEÑOR que Él hizo con nuestros padres cuando los trajo de la tierra de Egipto^a.

22 Entonces Salomón se puso delante del altar del SEÑOR en presencia de toda la asamblea de Israel y extendió las manos¹ al cielo^a. 23 Y dijo: Oh SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, no hay Dios como tú^a ni arriba en los cielos ni abajo en la tierra, que guardas el pacto y muestras misericordia^b a tus siervos que andan delante de ti con todo su corazón, 24 que has cumplido¹ con tu siervo David mi padre lo que le prometiste²; ciertamente has hablado con tu boca y lo has cumplido con tu mano como sucede hoy. 25 Ahora pues, oh SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, cumple¹ con tu siervo David mi padre lo que le prometiste², diciendo: «No te faltará quien³ se siente en el trono de Israel, con tal que tus hijos guarden su camino para andar delante de mí como tú has andado^a delante de mí». 26 Ahora pues, oh Dios de Israel, te ruego que se cumpla tu palabra que hablaste a tu siervo^a, mi padre David.

27 Pero, ¿morará verdaderamente Dios sobre la tierra? He aquí, los cielos y los cielos de los cielos no te pueden contener, cuánto menos esta casa que yo he edificado^a. 28 No obstante, atiende a la oración de tu siervo y a su súplica, oh SEÑOR Dios mío, para que oigas el clamor y la oración que tu siervo hace¹ hoy delante de ti^a; 29 que tus ojos estén abiertos noche y día hacia esta casa, hacia el lugar del cual has dicho: «Mi nombre estará allí^a», para que oigas la oración que tu siervo haga¹ hacia este lugar^b. 30 Y escucha la súplica de tu siervo^a y de tu pueblo Israel cuando oren^b hacia este lugar; escucha tú en el lugar de tu morada, en los cielos; escucha y perdona^c.

31 Si alguno peca contra su prójimo^a y se le exige juramento¹, y viene y jura delante de tu altar en esta casa, 32 escucha tú desde los cielos y obra y juzga a tus siervos, condenando al impío haciendo recaer su conducta sobre su cabeza, y justificando al justo dándole conforme a su justicia^a.

33 Cuando tu pueblo Israel sea derrotado¹ delante de un enemigo por haber pecado contra ti^a, si se vuelven a ti y confiesan tu nombre, y oran y te hacen súplica^b en esta casa, 34 escucha tú desde los cielos y perdona el pecado de tu pueblo Israel, y hazlos volver a la tierra que diste a sus padres.

35 Cuando los cielos estén cerrados y no haya lluvia por haber ellos pecado contra ti, y oren hacia este lugar y confiesen tu nombre, y se vuelvan de su pecado cuando tú los aflijas^a, 36 escucha tú desde los cielos y perdona el pecado de tus siervos y de tu pueblo Israel; sí, enséñales el buen camino por el que deben andar^a. Y envía lluvia sobre tu tierra^b, la que diste a tu pueblo por heredad.

37 Si hay hambre en la tierra, si hay pestilencia, si hay tizón o añublo, langosta o saltamontes, si su enemigo los sitia en la tierra de sus ciudades¹, cualquier plaga, cualquier enfermedad que haya^a, 38 toda oración o toda súplica que sea hecha por cualquier hombre o por todo tu pueblo Israel, conociendo¹ cada cual la aflicción² de su corazón, y extendiendo sus manos³ hacia esta casa, 39 escucha tú desde los cielos, el lugar de tu morada, y perdona, actúa y da a cada uno conforme a todos sus caminos, ya que conoces su corazón^a (porquesolo tú conoces el corazón de todos los hijos de los hombres^b), 40 para que te teman¹ todos los días que vivan sobre la faz de la tierra que diste a nuestros padres.

41 También en cuanto al extranjero que no es de tu pueblo Israel, cuando venga de una tierra lejana a causa de tu nombre 42 (porque oirán de tu gran nombre, de tu mano poderosa^a y de tu brazo extendido), y venga a orar a esta casa, 43 escucha tú desde los cielos, el lugar de tu morada, y haz conforme a todo lo que el extranjero te pida, para que todos los pueblos de la tierra conozcan tu nombre^a para que te teman¹, como te teme tu pueblo Israel, y para que sepan que tu nombre es invocado sobre esta casa que he edificado.

44 Cuando tu pueblo salga a la batalla contra su enemigo, por cualquier camino que tú los envíes, y oren al SEÑOR^a vueltos hacia¹ la ciudad que tú has escogido y hacia la casa que he edificado a tu nombre, 45 escucha desde los cielos su oración y su súplica, y hazles justicia.

46 Cuando pequen contra ti (pues no hay hombre que no peque^a) y estés airado contra ellos, y los entregues delante del enemigo, yestos¹ los lleven cautivos a la tierra del enemigo^b, lejos o cerca, 47 si recapacitan¹ en la tierra adonde hayan sido llevados cautivos, y se arrepienten y te hacen súplica en la tierra de los que los llevaron cautivos^a, diciendo: «Hemos pecado y hemos cometido iniquidad, hemos obrado perversamente^b», 48 si se vuelven a ti con todo su corazón y con toda su alma en la tierra de sus enemigos que los llevaron cautivos^a, y oran a ti vueltos hacia¹ la tierra que diste a sus padres, hacia la ciudad que has escogido, y hacia la casa que he edificado a tu nombre^b, 49 entonces escucha tú desde los cielos, el lugar de tu morada, su oración y su súplica y hazles justicia, 50 y perdona a tu pueblo que ha pecado contra ti, todas las¹ transgresiones que hayan cometido contra ti, y hazlos objeto de compasión ante los que los llevaron cautivos, para que tengan compasión de ellos^a 51 (porque ellos son tu pueblo y tu heredad que sacaste de Egipto^a, de en medio del horno de hierro^b). 52 Que tus ojos estén abiertos a la súplica de tu siervo^a y a la súplica de tu pueblo Israel, para escucharlos siempre que te invoquen. 53 Pues tú los has separado de entre todos los pueblos de la tierra como tu heredad, como lo dijiste por medio¹ de tu siervo Moisés, cuando sacaste a nuestros padres de Egipto, oh Señor DIOS^2a.

54 Y sucedió que cuando Salomón terminó de decir¹ toda esta oración y súplica al SEÑOR^a, se levantó de delante del altar del SEÑOR, de estar de² rodillas con sus manos³ extendidas hacia el cielo^b. 55 Y se puso de pie y bendijo a toda la asamblea de Israel^a en alta voz, diciendo: 56 Bendito sea el SEÑOR, que ha dado reposo^a a su pueblo Israel, conforme a todo lo que prometió¹; ninguna palabra ha fallado² de toda su buena promesa³ que hizo^4b por medio⁵ de su siervo Moisés. 57 Que el SEÑOR nuestro Dios esté con nosotros, como estuvo con nuestros padres; que no nos deje ni nos abandone^a, 58 para que incline nuestro corazón hacia Él^a, para que andemos en todos sus caminos y para que guardemos sus mandamientos, sus estatutos y sus preceptos que ordenó a nuestros padres. 59 Y que estas palabras mías, con las que he suplicado delante del SEÑOR, estén cerca del SEÑOR nuestro Dios día y noche, para que Él haga justicia a su siervo y justicia a su pueblo Israel, según las necesidades de cada día¹, 60 a fin de que todos los pueblos de la tierra sepan que el SEÑOR es Dios^a; no hay otro^b. 61 Estén, pues, vuestros corazones enteramente dedicados al¹ SEÑOR nuestro Dios^a, para que andemos en sus estatutos y guardemos sus mandamientos, como en este día.

62 Y el rey y todo Israel con él ofrecieron sacrificios delante del SEÑOR^a. 63 Y Salomón ofreció como sacrificio de las ofrendas de paz, que él ofreció al SEÑOR, veintidós mil bueyes y ciento veinte mil ovejas. Así dedicaron la casa del SEÑOR el rey y todos los hijos de Israel^a. 64 Aquel día el rey consagró la parte central del atrio que estaba delante de la casa del SEÑOR, pues allí ofreció¹ el holocausto, la ofrenda de cereal y la grosura de las ofrendas de paz; porque el altar de bronce^a que estaba delante del SEÑOR era demasiado pequeño para contener el holocausto, la ofrenda de cereal y la grosura de las ofrendas de paz. 65 Así Salomón celebró la fiesta en aquella ocasión, y todo Israel con él^a, una gran asamblea desde la entrada de Hamat^b hasta el torrente de Egipto^c, delante del SEÑOR nuestro Dios, por siete días y siete días más, o sea catorce días. 66 Al octavo día despidió al pueblo. Ellos bendijeron al rey, y se fueron a sus tiendas gozosos y alegres de corazón por todo el bien que el SEÑOR había mostrado¹ a su siervo David y a su pueblo Israel.

^aThen Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all ^bthe heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, ^cto bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from ^dthe city of David, which is Zion. 2 All the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at ^athe feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 Then all the elders of Israel came, and ^athe priests took up the ark. 4 They brought up the ark of the LORD and ^athe tent of meeting and all the holy utensils, which were in the tent, and the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, ^awere with him before the ark, sacrificing ¹so many sheep and oxen they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then ^athe priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD ^bto its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, ^cunder the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles from above. 8 But ^athe poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; they are there to this day. 9 ^aThere was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where ^bthe LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, ^athe cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

12 ^aThen Solomon said,“The LORD has said that ^bHe would dwell in the thick cloud.

14 Then the king ¹faced about and ^ablessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 He said, “^aBlessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, ^bwho spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, 16 ‘^aSince the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that ^bMy name might be there, but ^cI chose David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 ^aNow it was ¹in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 18 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was ¹in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was ²in your heart. 19 ^aNevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who ¹will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.’ 20 Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for ^aI have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD ¹promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 21 There I have set a place for the ark, ^ain which is the covenant of the LORD, which He made with our fathers when He brought them from the land of Egypt.”

22 Then ^aSolomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and ^bspread out his hands toward heaven. 23 He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, ^athere is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, ^bkeeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, 24 who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You have ¹promised him; indeed, You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand as it is this day. 25 Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have ¹promised him, saying, ‘^2aYou shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk before Me as you have walked.’ 26 Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed ^awhich You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, ^aheaven and the ¹highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the ^aprayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; 29 ^athat Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward ^bthe place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. 30 ^aListen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, ^bwhen they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and ^cforgive.

31 “^aIf a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, 32 then hear in heaven and act and judge Your servants, ^acondemning the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

33 “^aWhen Your people Israel are ¹defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned against You, ^bif they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and make supplication to You in this house, 34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.

35 “^aWhen the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name and turn from their sin when You afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, ^aindeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And ^bsend rain on Your land, which You have given Your people for an inheritance.

37 “^aIf there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their ¹cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, ¹each knowing the ²affliction of his own heart, and spreading his ³hands toward this house; 39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, ^awhose heart You know, for ^bYou alone know the hearts of all the sons of men, 40 that they may ¹fear You all the days that they live ²in the land which You have given to our fathers.

41 “Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake 42 (for they will hear of Your great name ^aand Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order ^athat all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to ¹fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that ²this house which I have built is called by Your name.

44 “When Your people go out to battle against ¹their enemy, by whatever way You shall send them, and ^athey pray to the LORD ²toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their ¹cause.

46 “When they sin against You (for ^athere is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that ¹they take them away captive ^bto the land of the enemy, far off or near; 47 ^aif they ¹take thought in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, ‘^bWe have sinned and have committed iniquity, we have acted wickedly’; 48 ^aif they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and ^bpray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name; 49 then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven Your dwelling place, and maintain their ¹cause, 50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and ^amake them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 ^a(for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought forth from Egypt, ^bfrom the midst of the iron furnace), 52 ^athat Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and to the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. 53 For You have separated them from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, ^aas You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers forth from Egypt, O Lord ¹GOD.”

54 ^aWhen Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, ^bhe arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his ¹hands spread toward heaven. 55 And he stood and ^ablessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

56 “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, ^aaccording to all that He ¹promised; ^bnot one word has ²failed of all His good ³promise, which He ⁴promised through Moses His servant. 57 May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; ^amay He not leave us or forsake us, 58 that ^aHe may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the ¹cause of His servant and the ²cause of His people Israel, ³as each day requires, 60 so ^athat all the peoples of the earth may know that ^bthe LORD is God; there is no one else. 61 ^aLet your heart therefore be ¹wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

62 ^aNow the king and all Israel with him ^boffered sacrifice before the LORD. 63 Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. ^aSo the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. 64 On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, because there he ¹offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings; for ^athe bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings.

65 So ^aSolomon observed the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly ^bfrom the entrance of Hamath ^cto the brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, for seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days. 66 On the eighth day he sent the people away and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had ¹shown to David His servant and to Israel His people.

^aThen Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all ^bthe heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, ^cto bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from ^dthe City of David, which is Zion. 2 All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at ^athe feast in the month of Ethanim (September-October) , that is, the seventh month. 3 All the elders of Israel came, and ^athe priests carried the ark. 4 They brought up the ark of the LORD and the ^aTent of Meeting and all the holy utensils that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, ^awere with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, so many that they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then ^athe priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD ^bto its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, into the Holy of Holies, ^cunder the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its carrying poles from above. 8 ^aThe poles were so long that the ends of the poles were visible from the Holy Place that was in front of the ¹Holy of Holies, but they were not visible from the outside; they are there to this day (the date of this writing) . 9 ^aThere was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb (Sinai) , where ^bthe LORD made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt. Deut 10:2-5 10 Now it happened that when the priests had come out of the Holy Place, ^athe cloud filled the LORD’S house, 11 so the priests could not stand in their positions to minister because of the cloud, for the glory and brilliance of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house (temple) .

12 ^aThen Solomon said,“The LORD has said that ^bHe would dwell in the thick darkness of the cloud.

14 Then the king turned around and ^ablessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 He said, “^aBlessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, ^bwho spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, 16 ‘^aSince the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I did not choose a particular city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house so that ^bMy Name (Presence) would be in it, but ^cI chose David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 ^aNow it was determined in the heart of my father David to build a house (temple) for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 18 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you did well, in that it was in your heart. 19 ^aNevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son, who shall be born to you, it is he who shall build it for My Name and My Presence.’ 20 Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; ^aI have risen in the place of my father David and have taken my seat on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and have built the house (temple) for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 21 There I have made a place in the Holy of Holies for the ark, ^ain which is the covenant (solemn agreement) of the LORD, which He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.” Ex 34:28

22 Then ^aSolomon stood in the courtyard before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and ^bspread out his hands toward heaven. 23 He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, ^athere is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, who ^bkeeps the covenant and shows lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart; 24 You who have kept what You ¹promised to Your servant my father David. You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled Your word with Your hand, as it is this day. 25 Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep for Your servant my father David that which You promised him when You said, ‘You ^ashall not be without a man (descendant) to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way of life to walk before Me according to my laws as you have done.’ 26 Now, O God of Israel, please let Your word ^awhich You have spoken to Your servant David my father be confirmed.

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, ^aheaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built! 28 Yet graciously consider the ^aprayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the loud cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; 29 ^athat Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward ^bthe place of which You have said, ‘My Name (Presence) shall be there,’ that You may listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. 30 ^aListen to the prayer of Your servant and of Your people Israel ^bwhich they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven, Your dwelling place; hear and ^cforgive.

31 “^aIf a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath of innocence and he comes to take the oath before Your altar in this house (temple) , 32 then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, ^acondemning the wicked by bringing his guilt on his own head, and justifying the righteous by rewarding him in accordance with his righteousness.

33 “^aWhen Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, ^band then they turn to You again and praise Your Name and pray and ask for Your favor and compassion in this house (temple) , 34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave their fathers.

35 “^aWhen the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and praise Your name and turn from their sin when You afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel; ^aindeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk (live) . And ^bsend rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

37 “^aIf there is famine in the land, or if there is pestilence (plague) , blight, mildew, migratory locusts, or grasshoppers, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever affliction or plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer or pleading is made by any individual, or by Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands out toward this house; 39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and give to each according to his ways, ^awhose heart (mind) You know, for ^bYou and You alone know the hearts of all the children of men, 40 so that they may fear You with reverence and awe all the days that they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.

41 “Moreover, concerning a ¹foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, but comes from a far (distant) country for the sake of Your name to plead with You 42 (for they will hear of Your great name, ^aYour strong hand of power, and outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house (temple) , 43 hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls upon (prays to) You, so ^athat all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You with reverence and awe, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know without any doubt that this house which I have built is called by Your name.

44 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way You send them, and ^athey pray to the LORD toward the city which You have chosen and the house that I have built for Your Name and Presence, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their pleading, and maintain their right and defend their cause.

46 “When they sin against You (for ^athere is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, so that they are carried away captive ^bto the enemy’s land, whether far away or near; 47 ^aif they ¹take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and they repent and pray to You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘^bWe have sinned and done wrong and we have acted wickedly;’ 48 ^aif they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and they ^bpray to You toward their land of Israel which You gave to their fathers, the city of Jerusalem which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your Name and Presence; 49 then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven Your dwelling place, and maintain their right and defend their cause, 50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions which they have committed against You, and ^amake them objects of compassion before their captors, that they will be merciful to them 51 (^afor they are Your people and Your heritage, whom You brought out of Egypt, ^bfrom the midst of the iron furnace of slavery and oppression), 52 ^athat Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and to the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them and be attentive to them whenever they call to You. 53 For You singled them out from all the peoples of the earth as Your heritage, ^ajust as You declared through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.”

54 ^aWhen Solomon finished offering this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, ^bhe arose from before the LORD’S altar, where he had knelt down with his hands stretched toward heaven. 55 And he stood and ^ablessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,

56 “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, ^ain accordance with everything that He promised. ^bNot one word has failed of all His good promise, which He spoke through Moses His servant. 57 May the LORD our God be with us as He was with our fathers; ^amay He not leave us nor abandon us to our enemies, 58 that ^aHe may guide our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways following Him and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His precepts which He commanded our fathers. 59 Let these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause and right of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires, 60 ^aso that all the peoples of the earth may know that ^bthe LORD is God; there is no one else. 61 ^aTherefore, your hearts are to be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as you are doing today.”

62 ^aThen the king and all the people of Israel with him repeatedly ^boffered sacrifice before the LORD. 63 Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD: 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. ^aSo the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house (temple) of the LORD. 64 On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the house (temple) of the LORD; for he offered there the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because ^athe bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to hold all the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the peace offerings.

65 So at that time ^aSolomon held the ¹feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, ^bfrom the entrance of Hamath on the northern border of Israel ^cto the ²Brook of Egypt at Israel’s southern border, before the LORD our God, for seven days and seven more days beyond the prescribed period for the Feast of Booths, fourteen days in all. 66 On the eighth (fifteenth) day he sent the people away and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and in good spirits because of all the goodness which the LORD had shown to David His servant and Israel His people.

^aThen Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all ^bthe heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, ^cto bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from ^dthe city of David, that is, Zion. 2 So all the men of Israel assembled themselves before King Solomon at ^athe feast, in the month Ethanim, that is, the seventh month. 3 Then all the elders of Israel came, and ^athe priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, ^athe tent of meeting, and all the holy utensils which were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were gathered together to him, ^awere with him before the ark, sacrificing ¹so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then ^athe priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD ^bto its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the Most Holy Place, ^cunder the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its carrying poles from above. 8 But ^athe poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; they are there to this day. 9 ^aThere was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where ^bthe LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And it happened that when the priests came from the holy place, ^athe cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

12 ^aThen Solomon said,“The LORD has said that ^bHe would dwell in the thick darkness.

14 Then the king ¹turned around and ^ablessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 He said, “^aBlessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, ^bwho spoke with His mouth to my father David, and fulfilled it with His hands, saying, 16 ‘^aSince the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house so that ^bMy name would be there, but ^cI chose David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 ^aNow it was ¹in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 18 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was ¹in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was ²in your heart. 19 ^aNevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who ¹will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.’ 20 Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for ^aI have risen in place of my father David and I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD ¹promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 21 And there I have set a place for the ark, ^ain which is the covenant of the LORD, which He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

22 Then ^aSolomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and he ^bspread out his hands toward heaven. 23 And he said, “LORD, God of Israel, ^athere is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, ^bkeeping the covenant and showing faithfulness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, 24 You who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You ¹promised him; You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 25 Now then, LORD, God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have ¹promised him, saying, ‘^2aYou shall not be deprived of a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful about their way, to walk before Me as you have walked.’ 26 Now then, God of Israel, let Your words, please, be confirmed, ^awhich You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, ^aheaven and the ¹highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! 28 Nevertheless, turn Your attention to the ^aprayer of Your servant and to his plea, LORD, my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today, 29 ^aso that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward ^bthe place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant will pray toward this place. 30 And ^alisten to the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel, ^bwhen they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and ^cforgive!

31 “^aIf a person sins against his neighbor and is compelled to take an oath of innocence, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, 32 then hear in heaven and act and judge Your servants, ^acondemning the wicked by ¹bringing his way on his own head, and acquitting the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

33 “^aWhen Your people Israel are ¹defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, ^bif they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and implore Your ²favor in this house, 34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave their fathers.

35 “^aWhen the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and praise Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel; ^aindeed, teach them the good way in which they are to walk. And ^bprovide rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

37 “^aIf there is a famine in the land, if there is a plague, if there is ¹blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy harasses them in the land of their ²cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer or plea ¹is offered by any person or by all Your people Israel, ²each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his ³hands toward this house; 39 then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive and act, and give to each in accordance with all his ways, ^awhose heart You know—for ^bYou alone know the hearts of all ¹mankind— 40 so that they will ¹fear You all the days that they live on the ²land which You have given to our fathers.

41 “Also regarding the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country on account of Your name 42 (for they will hear of Your great name ^aand Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and act in accordance with all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order ^athat all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to ¹fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that ²this house which I have built is called by Your name.

44 “When Your people go out to battle against ¹their enemy, by whatever way You send them, and ^athey pray to the LORD ²toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their pleading, and maintain their cause.

46 “When they sin against You (for ^athere is no person who does not sin) and You are angry with them and turn them over to an enemy, so that ¹they take them away captive ^bto the land of the enemy, distant or near; 47 ^aif they ¹take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and implore Your ²favor in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, ‘^bWe have sinned and done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; 48 ^aif they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and ^bpray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name; 49 then hear their prayer and their pleading in heaven, Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their wrongdoings which they have committed against You, and ^amake them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, so that they will have compassion on them 51 ^a(for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought out of Egypt, ^bfrom the midst of the iron furnace), 52 ^aso that Your eyes may be open to the pleading of Your servant and to the pleading of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. 53 For You have singled them out from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, ^ajust as You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord ¹GOD.”

54 ^aWhen Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and plea to the LORD, ^bhe stood up from the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his ¹hands spread toward heaven. 55 And he stood and ^ablessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

56 “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel ^ain accordance with everything that He ¹promised; ^bnot one word has ²failed of all His good ³promise, which He ⁴promised through Moses His servant. 57 May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; ^amay He not leave us nor forsake us, 58 so that ^aHe may guide our hearts toward Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, with which I have implored the ¹favor of the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, ²as each day requires, 60 so ^athat all the peoples of the earth may know that ^bthe LORD is God; there is no one else. 61 ^aYour hearts therefore shall be ¹wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

62 ^aThen the king and all Israel with him ^boffered sacrifice before the LORD. 63 And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, twenty-two thousand oxen and 120,000 sheep. ^aSo the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. 64 On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the house of the LORD, because there he ¹offered the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the peace offerings; for ^athe bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to hold the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the peace offerings.

65 So ^aSolomon held the ¹feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly ^bfrom the entrance of Hamath ^cto the brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, for seven days and seven more days, that is, fourteen days. 66 On the eighth day he dismissed the people, and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and with happy hearts for all the goodness that the LORD had ¹shown to David His servant, and to Israel His people.