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1 Kings 8
Legacy Standard Bible

The Ark Brought into the House of Yahweh

8 (A)Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all (B)the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, (C)to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from (D)the city of David, which is Zion. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at (E)the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 Then all the elders of Israel came, and (F)the priests carried the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of Yahweh and (G)the 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 congregated to him being (H)with him before the ark, were sacrificing [a]so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then (I)the priests brought the ark of the covenant of Yahweh (J)to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the Holy of Holies, (K)under 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 (L)the 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; and they are there to this day. 9 (M)There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses laid there at Horeb, where (N)Yahweh cut a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 Now it happened that when the priests came out of the holy place, (O)the cloud filled the house of Yahweh, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh.

Solomon Blesses the People

12 (P)Then Solomon said,

“Yahweh has said that (Q)He would dwell in the cloud of dense gloom.
13 (R)I have surely built You a lofty house,
(S)A place for Your dwelling forever.”

14 Then the king turned his face around and (T)blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 And he said, “(U)Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, (V)who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it by His hand, saying, 16 ‘(W)Since 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 (X)My name might be there, but (Y)I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 (Z)And it was [b]in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 18 But Yahweh said to my father David, ‘Because it was [c]in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was [d]in your heart. 19 (AA)Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will (AB)come forth from your loins, he shall build the house for My name.’ 20 And Yahweh has established His word which He spoke; and (AC)I have been established in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh [e]promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 21 And there I have set a place for the ark, (AD)in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which He cut with our fathers when He brought them from the land of Egypt.”

Solomon’s Prayer for Israel

22 Then (AE)Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh before all the assembly of Israel and (AF)spread out his hands toward heaven. 23 And he said, “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, (AG)there is no god like You in heaven above or upon earth beneath, (AH)keeping covenant and lovingkindness to Your slaves who walk before You with all their heart, 24 who have kept with Your [f]servant, my father David, that which You have [g]promised him; indeed, You have [h]promised with Your mouth and have fulfilled it by Your hand as it is this day. 25 So now, O Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with Your [i]servant David my father that which You have [j]promised him, saying, ‘(AI)You shall not have a man cut off from before Me who is to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons keep their way to walk as you have walked before Me.’ 26 So now, O God of Israel, let Your word truly [k]endure (AJ)which You have spoken to Your [l]servant, my father David.

27 “But will God truly dwell on the earth? Behold, (AK)heaven and the [m]highest heaven cannot [n]contain You; how much less this house which I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the (AL)prayer of Your slave and to his supplication, O Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your slave prays before You today; 29 (AM)that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward (AN)the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your slave shall pray toward this place. 30 (AO)And listen to the supplication of Your slave and of Your people Israel, (AP)when they pray toward this place; listen in heaven Your dwelling place; listen and (AQ)forgive.

31 “(AR)If 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 listen in heaven and act and judge Your slaves, (AS)condemning the wicked by [o]bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by [p]bringing him reward according to his righteousness.

33 “(AT)When Your people Israel are [q]defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned against You, (AU)if they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and make supplication to You in this house, 34 then listen in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.

35 “(AV)When 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 listen in heaven and forgive the sin of Your slaves and of Your people Israel; (AW)indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And (AX)give rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.

37 “(AY)If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is scorching wind or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their [r]cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each of whom knows the [s]affliction of his own heart, and spreads his [t]hands toward this house; 39 then listen in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and give to each according to all his ways, (AZ)whose heart You know, for (BA)You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men, 40 that they may [u]fear You all the days that they live upon the face of the land which You have given to our fathers.

41 “Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, if he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake 42 (for they will hear of Your great name (BB)and Your strong hand, and of Your outstretched arm); so if he comes and prays toward this house, 43 listen in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order (BC)that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name to [v]fear You, as do Your people Israel, and to know that Your name is called upon this house which I have built.

44 “When Your people go out to battle against [w]their enemy, by whatever way You shall send them, and (BD)they pray to Yahweh [x]toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 45 then listen in heaven to their prayer and their supplication, and do justice.

46 “When they sin against You (for (BE)there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and give them over to an enemy, so that [y]they take them away captive (BF)to the land of the enemy, far off or near; 47 (BG)and if they cause these things to return to their heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and [z]return and make supplication to You in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, ‘(BH)We have sinned and have committed iniquity, we have acted wickedly’; 48 (BI)and if 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 (BJ)pray 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 listen in heaven Your dwelling place to their prayer and their supplication, and do justice for them, 50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and (BK)give them over as objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 ((BL)for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought forth from Egypt, (BM)from the midst of the iron furnace), 52 (BN)that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your slave 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, (BO)as You spoke by the hand of Moses Your [aa]servant, when You brought our fathers forth from Egypt, O Lord Yahweh.”

Solomon Blesses Yahweh

54 (BP)Now it happened that when Solomon had [ab]finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to Yahweh, (BQ)he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees with his [ac]hands spread toward heaven. 55 And he stood and (BR)blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

56 “Blessed be Yahweh, who has given rest to His people Israel, (BS)according to all that He [ad]promised; (BT)not one promise has [ae]failed of all His good [af]promises, which He [ag]promised by the hand of Moses His [ah]servant. 57 May Yahweh our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; (BU)may He not forsake us or abandon us, 58 that (BV)He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before Yahweh, be near to Yahweh our God day and night, that He may do justice for His slave and justice for His people Israel, [ai]as each day requires, 60 so (BW)that all the peoples of the earth may know that (BX)Yahweh is God; there is no one else. 61 (BY)Let your heart therefore be [aj]wholly devoted to Yahweh our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

The Offering for the House of Yahweh

62 (BZ)Now the king and all Israel with him were (CA)offering sacrifices before Yahweh. 63 And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to Yahweh, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. (CB)So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of Yahweh. 64 On the same day the king set apart as holy the middle of the court that was before the house of Yahweh, because there he [ak]offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings; for (CC)the bronze altar that was before Yahweh was too small to hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings.

65 So (CD)Solomon celebrated the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly (CE)from [al]Lebo-hamath (CF)to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh 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 with gladness and goodness of heart because of all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David His [am]servant and to Israel His people.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:5 Lit sheep and oxen...numbered for multitude
  2. 1 Kings 8:17 Lit with
  3. 1 Kings 8:18 Lit with
  4. 1 Kings 8:18 Lit with
  5. 1 Kings 8:20 Lit spoke
  6. 1 Kings 8:24 Or slave, cf. 8:23; see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave”
  7. 1 Kings 8:24 Lit spoken to
  8. 1 Kings 8:24 Lit spoken to
  9. 1 Kings 8:25 Or slave, cf. 8:23; see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave”
  10. 1 Kings 8:25 Lit spoken to
  11. 1 Kings 8:26 Or be true
  12. 1 Kings 8:26 Or slave, cf. 8:23; see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave”
  13. 1 Kings 8:27 Lit heaven of heavens
  14. 1 Kings 8:27 Or uphold; lit sustain
  15. 1 Kings 8:32 Lit giving
  16. 1 Kings 8:32 Lit giving
  17. 1 Kings 8:33 Lit smitten
  18. 1 Kings 8:37 Lit gates
  19. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit plague
  20. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit palms
  21. 1 Kings 8:40 Or reverence
  22. 1 Kings 8:43 Or reverence
  23. 1 Kings 8:44 Lit his
  24. 1 Kings 8:44 Lit in the way of
  25. 1 Kings 8:46 Lit their captors take them captive
  26. 1 Kings 8:47 Or repent
  27. 1 Kings 8:53 Or slave, cf. 8:52; see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave”
  28. 1 Kings 8:54 Or completed, cf. 9:1; 2 Chr 7:11; 8:16
  29. 1 Kings 8:54 Lit palms
  30. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit spoke
  31. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit fallen
  32. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit word
  33. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit spoke
  34. 1 Kings 8:56 Or slave, cf. 8:52; see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave”
  35. 1 Kings 8:59 Lit the thing of a day in its day
  36. 1 Kings 8:61 Lit complete with
  37. 1 Kings 8:64 Lit made
  38. 1 Kings 8:65 Or the entrance of Hamath
  39. 1 Kings 8:66 Or slave, cf. 8:52; see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave”
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1 Re 8
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana

Trasferimento dell'arca dell'alleanza

8 A questo punto Salomone convocò in assemblea a Gerusalemme gli anziani di Israele, tutti i capitribù, i principi dei casati degli Israeliti, per trasportare l'arca dell'alleanza del Signore dalla città di Davide, cioè da Sion. 2 Tutto Israele si radunò presso il re Salomone per la festa, nel mese di Etanim, cioè il settimo mese. 3 Presenti tutti gli anziani di Israele, l'arca del Signore fu sollevata e i sacerdoti e i leviti la trasportarono 4 con la tenda del convegno e con tutti gli arredi sacri che erano nella tenda. 5 Il re Salomone e tutta la comunità di Israele, convenuta presso di lui, immolavano davanti all'arca pecore e buoi che non si contavano né si calcolavano. 6 I sacerdoti introdussero l'arca dell'alleanza del Signore al suo posto nella cella del tempio, cioè nel Santo dei santi, sotto le ali dei cherubini. 7 Difatti i cherubini stendevano le ali sopra l'arca; essi coprivano l'arca e le sue stanghe dall'alto. 8 Le stanghe erano più lunghe, per questo le loro punte si vedevano dal Santo di fronte alla cella, ma non si vedevano di fuori; tali cose ci sono fino ad oggi. 9 Nell'arca non c'era nulla se non le due tavole di pietra, che vi aveva deposte Mosè sull'Oreb, cioè le tavole dell'alleanza conclusa dal Signore con gli Israeliti quando uscirono dal paese d'Egitto.

Dio prende possesso del suo tempio

10 Appena i sacerdoti furono usciti dal santuario, la nuvola riempì il tempio 11 e i sacerdoti non poterono rimanervi per compiere il servizio a causa della nube, perché la gloria del Signore riempiva il tempio. 12 Allora Salomone disse:

«Il Signore ha deciso di abitare sulla nube.
13 Io ti ho costruito una casa potente,
un luogo per la tua dimora perenne».

Discorso di Salomone al popolo

14 Il re si voltò e benedisse tutta l'assemblea di Israele, mentre tutti i presenti stavano in piedi. 15 Salomone disse: «Benedetto il Signore, Dio di Israele, che ha adempiuto con potenza quanto aveva promesso con la sua bocca a Davide mio padre: 16 Da quando ho fatto uscire Israele mio popolo dall'Egitto, io non mi sono scelto una città fra tutte le tribù di Israele perché mi si costruisse una casa, ove abitasse il mio nome; ora mi sono scelto Gerusalemme perché vi dimori il mio nome e mi sono scelto Davide perché sia capo del popolo di Israele. 17 Davide mio padre aveva deciso di costruire un tempio al nome del Signore, Dio di Israele, 18 ma il Signore gli disse: Tu hai pensato di edificare un tempio al mio nome; hai fatto bene a formulare tale progetto. 19 Non tu costruirai il tempio, ma il figlio che uscirà dai tuoi fianchi, lui costruirà un tempio al mio nome. 20 Il Signore ha attuato la parola che aveva pronunziata; io ho preso il posto di Davide mio padre, mi sono seduto sul trono di Israele, come aveva preannunziato il Signore, e ho costruito il tempio al nome del Signore, Dio di Israele. 21 In esso ho fissato un posto per l'arca, dove c'è l'alleanza che il Signore aveva conclusa con i nostri padri quando li fece uscire dal paese di Egitto».

Preghiera personale di Salomone

22 Poi Salomone si pose davanti all'altare del Signore, di fronte a tutta l'assemblea di Israele, e, stese le mani verso il cielo, 23 disse: «Signore, Dio di Israele, non c'è un Dio come te, né lassù nei cieli né quaggiù sulla terra! Tu mantieni l'alleanza e la misericordia con i tuoi servi che camminano davanti a te con tutto il cuore. 24 Tu hai mantenuto nei riguardi del tuo servo Davide mio padre quanto gli avevi promesso; quanto avevi detto con la bocca l'hai adempiuto con potenza, come appare oggi. 25 Ora, Signore Dio di Israele, mantieni al tuo servo Davide mio padre quanto gli hai promesso: Non ti mancherà un discendente che stia davanti a me e sieda sul trono di Israele, purché i tuoi figli veglino sulla loro condotta camminando davanti a me come vi hai camminato tu. 26 Ora, Signore Dio di Israele, si adempia la parola che tu hai rivolta a Davide mio padre.

27 Ma è proprio vero che Dio abita sulla terra? Ecco i cieli e i cieli dei cieli non possono contenerti, tanto meno questa casa che io ho costruita! 28 Volgiti alla preghiera del tuo servo e alla sua supplica, Signore mio Dio; ascolta il grido e la preghiera che il tuo servo oggi innalza davanti a te! 29 Siano aperti i tuoi occhi notte e giorno verso questa casa, verso il luogo di cui hai detto: Lì sarà il mio nome! Ascolta la preghiera che il tuo servo innalza in questo luogo.

Preghiera per il popolo

30 Ascolta la supplica del tuo servo e di Israele tuo popolo, quando pregheranno in questo luogo. Ascoltali dal luogo della tua dimora, dal cielo; ascolta e perdona.

31 Se uno pecca contro il suo fratello e, perché gli è imposto un giuramento di imprecazione, viene a giurare davanti al tuo altare in questo tempio, 32 tu ascoltalo dal cielo, intervieni e fà giustizia con i tuoi servi; condanna l'empio, facendogli ricadere sul capo la sua condotta, e dichiara giusto l'innocente rendendogli quanto merita la sua innocenza.

33 Quando il tuo popolo Israele sarà sconfitto di fronte al nemico perché ha peccato contro di te, se si rivolge a te, se loda il tuo nome, se ti prega e ti supplica in questo tempio, 34 tu ascolta dal cielo, perdona il peccato di Israele tuo popolo e fallo tornare nel paese che hai dato ai suoi padri.

35 Quando si chiuderà il cielo e non ci sarà pioggia perché hanno peccato contro di te, se ti pregano in questo luogo, se lodano il tuo nome e si convertono dal loro peccato perché tu li hai umiliati, 36 tu ascolta dal cielo e perdona il peccato dei tuoi servi e di Israele tuo popolo, ai quali indicherai la strada buona su cui camminare, e concedi la pioggia alla terra che hai dato in eredità al tuo popolo.

37 Quando nella regione ci sarà carestia o peste, carbonchio o ruggine, invasione di locuste o di bruchi; quando il nemico assedierà il tuo popolo in qualcuna delle sue porte o quando scoppierà un'epidemia o un flagello qualsiasi; 38 se uno qualunque oppure tutto Israele tuo popolo, dopo avere provato il rimorso nel cuore, ti prega o supplica con le mani tese verso questo tempio, 39 tu ascoltalo dal cielo, luogo della tua dimora, perdona, intervieni e rendi a ognuno secondo la sua condotta, tu che conosci il suo cuore - tu solo conosci il cuore di tutti i figli degli uomini - 40 perché ti temano durante tutti i giorni della loro vita nel paese che hai dato ai nostri padri.

Supplementi

41 Anche lo straniero, che non appartiene a Israele tuo popolo, se viene da un paese lontano a causa del tuo nome 42 perché si sarà sentito parlare del tuo grande nome, della tua mano potente e del tuo braccio teso, se egli viene a pregare in questo tempio, 43 tu ascoltalo dal cielo, luogo della tua dimora, e soddisfa tutte le richieste dello straniero, perché tutti i popoli della terra conoscano il tuo nome, ti temano come Israele tuo popolo e sappiano che al tuo nome è stato dedicato questo tempio che io ho costruito.

44 Quando il tuo popolo uscirà in guerra contro il suo nemico, seguendo le vie in cui l'avrai indirizzato, se ti pregheranno rivolti verso la città che ti sei scelta e verso il tempio che io ho costruito al tuo nome, 45 ascolta dal cielo la loro preghiera e la loro supplica e rendi loro giustizia.

46 Quando peccheranno contro di te, poiché non c'è nessuno che non pecchi, e tu, adirato contro di loro, li consegnerai a un nemico e i loro conquistatori li deporteranno in un paese ostile, lontano o vicino, 47 se nel paese in cui saranno deportati rientreranno in se stessi e faranno ritorno a te supplicandoti nel paese della loro prigionia, dicendo: Abbiamo peccato, abbiamo agito da malvagi e da empi, 48 se torneranno a te con tutto il cuore e con tutta l'anima nel paese dei nemici che li avranno deportati, e ti supplicheranno rivolti verso il paese che tu hai dato ai loro padri, verso la città che ti sei scelta e verso il tempio che io ho costruito al tuo nome, 49 tu ascolta dal cielo, luogo della tua dimora, la loro preghiera e la loro supplica e rendi loro giustizia. 50 Perdona al tuo popolo, che ha peccato contro di te, tutte le ribellioni di cui si è reso colpevole verso di te, fà che i suoi deportatori gli usino misericordia, 51 perché si tratta del tuo popolo e della tua eredità, di coloro che hai fatto uscire dall'Egitto, da una fornace per fondere il ferro.

Conclusione della preghiera e benedizione del popolo

52 Siano attenti i tuoi occhi alla preghiera del tuo servo e del tuo popolo Israele e ascoltali in quanto ti chiedono, 53 perché tu li hai separati da tutti i popoli del paese come tua proprietà secondo quanto avevi dichiarato per mezzo di Mosè tuo servo, mentre facevi uscire, o Signore, i nostri padri dall'Egitto».

54 Quando Salomone ebbe finito di rivolgere al Signore questa preghiera e questa supplica, si alzò davanti all'altare del Signore, dove era inginocchiato con le palme tese verso il cielo, 55 si mise in piedi e benedisse tutta l'assemblea di Israele, a voce alta: 56 «Benedetto il Signore, che ha concesso tranquillità a Israele suo popolo, secondo la sua parola. Non è venuta meno neppure una delle parole buone che aveva pronunziate per mezzo di Mosè suo servo. 57 Il Signore nostro Dio sia con noi come è stato con i nostri padri; non ci abbandoni e non ci respinga, 58 ma volga piuttosto i nostri cuori verso di lui, perché seguiamo tutte le sue vie e osserviamo i comandi, gli statuti e i decreti che ha imposti ai nostri padri. 59 Queste parole, usate da me per supplicare il Signore, siano presenti davanti al Signore nostro Dio, giorno e notte, perché renda giustizia al suo servo e a Israele suo popolo secondo le necessità di ogni giorno. 60 Allora tutti i popoli della terra sapranno che il Signore è Dio e che non ce n'è altri. 61 Il vostro cuore sarà tutto dedito al Signore nostro Dio, perché cammini secondo i suoi decreti e osservi i suoi comandi, come avviene oggi».

I sacrifici della festa di dedicazione

62 Il re e tutto Israele offrirono un sacrificio davanti al Signore. 63 Salomone immolò al Signore, in sacrificio di comunione, ventiduemila buoi e centoventimila pecore; così il re e tutti gli Israeliti dedicarono il tempio al Signore. 64 In quel giorno il re consacrò il centro del cortile di fronte al tempio del Signore; infatti ivi offrì l'olocausto, l'oblazione e il grasso dei sacrifici di comunione, perché l'altare di bronzo, che era davanti al Signore, era troppo piccolo per contenere l'olocausto, l'oblazione e il grasso dei sacrifici di comunione.

65 In quell'occasione Salomone celebrò la festa davanti al Signore nostro Dio per sette giorni: tutto Israele, dall'ingresso di Amat al torrente d'Egitto, un'assemblea molto grande, era con lui. 66 Nel giorno ottavo congedò il popolo. I convenuti, salutato il re, tornarono alle loro case, contenti e con la gioia nel cuore per tutto il bene concesso dal Signore a Davide suo servo e a Israele suo popolo.

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1 Kings 8
New King James Version

The Ark Brought into the Temple(A)

8 Now (B)Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, (C)that they might bring (D)up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion. 2 Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the (E)feast in the month of [a]Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 So all the elders of Israel came, (F)and the priests took up the ark. 4 Then they brought up the ark of the Lord, (G)the [b]tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, were with him before the ark, (H)sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude. 6 Then the priests (I)brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to (J)its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, (K)under the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. 8 The poles (L)extended so that the [c]ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. 9 (M)Nothing was in the ark (N)except the two tablets of stone which Moses (O)put there at Horeb, (P)when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

10 And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud (Q)filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the (R)glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

12 (S)Then Solomon spoke:

“The Lord said He would dwell (T)in the dark cloud.
13 (U)I have surely built You an exalted house,
(V)And a place for You to dwell in forever.”

Solomon’s Speech at Completion of the Work(W)

14 Then the king turned around and (X)blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 And he said: (Y)“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who (Z)spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying, 16 ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that (AA)My name might be there; but I chose (AB)David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 Now (AC)it was in the heart of my father David to build a [d]temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 18 (AD)But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless (AE)you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’ 20 So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have [e]filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, (AF)as the Lord promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 21 And there I have made a place for the ark, in which is (AG)the covenant of the Lord which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(AH)

22 Then Solomon stood before (AI)the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and (AJ)spread out his hands toward heaven; 23 and he said: “Lord God of Israel, (AK)there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, (AL)who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who (AM)walk before You with all their hearts. 24 You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 25 Therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, (AN)‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.’ 26 (AO)And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.

27 “But (AP)will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the (AQ)heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! 28 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: 29 that Your eyes may be open toward this [f]temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, (AR)‘My name shall be (AS)there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes (AT)toward this place. 30 (AU)And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.

31 “When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take (AV)an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, 32 then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, (AW)condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

33 (AX)“When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and (AY)when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple, 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 (AZ)fathers.

35 (BA)“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may (BB)teach them (BC)the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

37 (BD)“When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their [g]cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 38 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple: 39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone (BE)know the hearts of all the sons of men), 40 (BF)that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.

41 “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake 42 (for they will hear of Your great name and Your (BG)strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, (BH)that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and (BI)fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

44 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their [h]cause.

46 “When they sin against You (BJ)(for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive (BK)to the land of the enemy, far or near; 47 (BL)yet when they [i]come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, (BM)saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness’; 48 and when they (BN)return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and (BO)pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name: 49 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their [j]cause, 50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and (BP)grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 (for (BQ)they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, (BR)out of the iron furnace), 52 (BS)that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. 53 For You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your inheritance, (BT)as You spoke by Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.”

Solomon Blesses the Assembly(BU)

54 (BV)And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 55 Then he stood (BW)and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying: 56 “Blessed be the Lord, who has given (BX)rest[k] to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. (BY)There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. (BZ)May He not leave us nor forsake us, 58 that He may (CA)incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require, 60 (CB)that all the peoples of the earth may know that (CC)the Lord is God; there is no other. 61 Let your (CD)heart therefore be [l]loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.”

Solomon Dedicates the Temple(CE)

62 Then (CF)the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord. 63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. 64 On (CG)the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord; for there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the (CH)bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

65 At that time Solomon held (CI)a feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from (CJ)the entrance of Hamath to (CK)the Brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, (CL)seven days and seven more days—fourteen days. 66 (CM)On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they [m]blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the good that the Lord had done for His servant David, and for Israel His people.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:2 Or Tishri, September or October
  2. 1 Kings 8:4 tent
  3. 1 Kings 8:8 heads
  4. 1 Kings 8:17 Lit. house, and so in vv. 18–20
  5. 1 Kings 8:20 risen in the place of
  6. 1 Kings 8:29 Lit. house
  7. 1 Kings 8:37 Lit. gates
  8. 1 Kings 8:45 justice
  9. 1 Kings 8:47 Lit. bring back to their heart
  10. 1 Kings 8:49 justice
  11. 1 Kings 8:56 peace
  12. 1 Kings 8:61 Lit. at peace with
  13. 1 Kings 8:66 thanked
Close GNT

1 Kings 8
Good News Translation

The Covenant Box Is Brought to the Temple(A)

8 (B)Then King Solomon summoned all the leaders of the tribes and clans of Israel to come to him in Jerusalem in order to take the Lord's Covenant Box from Zion, David's City, to the Temple. 2 (C)They all assembled during the Festival of Shelters in the seventh month, in the month of Ethanim. 3 When all the leaders had gathered, the priests lifted the Covenant Box 4 and carried it to the Temple. The Levites and the priests also moved the Tent of the Lord's presence and all its equipment to the Temple. 5 King Solomon and all the people of Israel assembled in front of the Covenant Box and sacrificed a large number of sheep and cattle—too many to count. 6 Then the priests carried the Covenant Box into the Temple and put it in the Most Holy Place, beneath the winged creatures. 7 Their outstretched wings covered the box and the poles it was carried by. 8 The ends of the poles could be seen by anyone standing directly in front of the Most Holy Place, but from nowhere else. (The poles are still there today.) 9 (D)There was nothing inside the Covenant Box except the two stone tablets which Moses had placed there at Mount Sinai, when the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel as they were coming from Egypt.

10 (E)As the priests were leaving the Temple, it was suddenly filled with a cloud 11 shining with the dazzling light of the Lord's presence, and they could not go back in to perform their duties. 12 (F)Then Solomon prayed:

“You, Lord, have placed the sun in the sky,[a]
    yet you have chosen to live in clouds and darkness.
13 Now I have built a majestic temple for you,
    a place for you to live in forever.”

Solomon's Address to the People(G)

14 As the people stood there, King Solomon turned to face them, and he asked God's blessing on them. 15 He said, “Praise the Lord God of Israel! He has kept the promise he made to my father David, when he told him, 16 (H)‘From the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen any city in all the land of Israel in which a temple should be built where I would be worshiped. But I chose you, David, to rule my people.’”

17 (I)And Solomon continued, “My father David planned to build a temple for the worship of the Lord God of Israel, 18 but the Lord said to him, ‘You were right in wanting to build a temple for me, 19 (J)but you will never build it. It is your son, your own son, who will build my temple.’

20 “And now the Lord has kept his promise. I have succeeded my father as king of Israel, and I have built the Temple for the worship of the Lord God of Israel. 21 I have also provided a place in the Temple for the Covenant Box containing the stone tablets of the covenant which the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

Solomon's Prayer(K)

22 Then in the presence of the people Solomon went and stood in front of the altar, where he raised his arms 23 and prayed, “Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you. 24 You have kept the promise you made to my father David; today every word has been fulfilled. 25 (L)And now, Lord God of Israel, I pray that you will also keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him that there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided they obeyed you as carefully as he did. 26 So now, O God of Israel, let everything come true that you promised to my father David, your servant.

27 (M)“But can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even all of heaven is large enough to hold you, so how can this Temple that I have built be large enough? 28 Lord my God, I am your servant. Listen to my prayer, and grant the requests I make to you today. 29 (N)Watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have chosen to be worshiped. Hear me when I face this Temple and pray. 30 Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people when they face this place and pray. In your home in heaven hear us and forgive us.

31 “When a person is accused of wronging another and is brought to your altar in this Temple to take an oath that he is innocent, 32 O Lord, listen in heaven and judge your servants. Punish the guilty one as he deserves, and acquit the one who is innocent.

33 “When your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and then when they turn to you and come to this Temple, humbly praying to you for forgiveness, 34 listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your people and bring them back to the land which you gave to their ancestors.

35 “When you hold back the rain because your people have sinned against you, and then when they repent and face this Temple, humbly praying to you, 36 listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of the king and of the people of Israel, and teach them to do what is right. Then, O Lord, send rain on this land of yours, which you gave to your people as a permanent possession.

37 “When there is famine in the land or an epidemic or the crops are destroyed by scorching winds or swarms of locusts, or when your people are attacked by their enemies, or when there is disease or sickness among them, 38 listen to their prayers. If any of your people Israel, out of heartfelt sorrow, stretch out their hands in prayer toward this Temple, 39 hear their prayer. Listen to them in your home in heaven, forgive them, and help them. You alone know the thoughts of the human heart. Deal with each person as he deserves, 40 so that your people may obey you all the time they live in the land which you gave to our ancestors.

41-42 “When a foreigner who lives in a distant land hears of your fame and of the great things you have done for your people and comes to worship you and to pray at this Temple, 43 listen to his prayer. In heaven, where you live, hear him and do what he asks you to do, so that all the peoples of the world may know you and obey you, as your people Israel do. Then they will know that this Temple I have built is the place where you are to be worshiped.

44 “When you command your people to go into battle against their enemies and they pray to you, wherever they are, facing this city which you have chosen and this Temple which I have built for you, 45 listen to their prayers. Hear them in heaven and give them victory.

46 “When your people sin against you—and there is no one who does not sin—and in your anger you let their enemies defeat them and take them as prisoners to some other land, even if that land is far away, 47 listen to your people's prayers. If there in that land they repent and pray to you, confessing how sinful and wicked they have been, hear their prayers, O Lord. 48 If in that land they truly and sincerely repent and pray to you as they face toward this land which you gave to our ancestors, this city which you have chosen, and this Temple which I have built for you, 49 then listen to their prayers. In your home in heaven hear them and be merciful to them. 50 Forgive all their sins and their rebellion against you, and make their enemies treat them with kindness. 51 They are your own people, whom you brought out of Egypt, that blazing furnace.

52 “Sovereign Lord, may you always look with favor on your people Israel and their king, and hear their prayer whenever they call to you for help. 53 You chose them from all the peoples to be your own people, as you told them through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”

The Final Prayer

54 After Solomon had finished praying to the Lord, he stood up in front of the altar, where he had been kneeling with uplifted hands. 55 In a loud voice he asked God's blessings on all the people assembled there. He said, 56 (O)“Praise the Lord who has given his people peace, as he promised he would. He has kept all the generous promises he made through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us; 58 may he make us obedient to him, so that we will always live as he wants us to live, keeping all the laws and commands he gave our ancestors. 59 May the Lord our God remember at all times this prayer and these petitions I have made to him. May he always be merciful to the people of Israel and to their king, according to their daily needs. 60 And so all the nations of the world will know that the Lord alone is God—there is no other. 61 May you, his people, always be faithful to the Lord our God, obeying all his laws and commands as you do today.”

The Dedication of the Temple(P)

62 Then King Solomon and all the people there offered sacrifices to the Lord. 63 He sacrificed 22,000 head of cattle and 120,000 sheep as fellowship offerings. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple. 64 That same day he also consecrated the central part of the courtyard, the area in front of the Temple, and then he offered there the sacrifices burned whole, the grain offerings, and the fat of the animals for the fellowship offerings. He did this because the bronze altar was too small for all these offerings.

65 There at the Temple, Solomon and all the people of Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters for seven[b] days. There was a huge crowd of people from as far away as Hamath Pass in the north and the Egyptian border in the south. 66 On the eighth day Solomon sent the people home. They all praised him and went home happy because of all the blessings that the Lord had given his servant David and his people Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:12 One ancient translation You … sky; Hebrew does not have these words.
  2. 1 Kings 8:65 One ancient translation seven; Hebrew fourteen.
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