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接约柜入殿(A)

那时,所罗门召集以色列的长老、各支派的领袖和以色列人的族长到耶路撒冷所罗门王那里,要把耶和华的约柜从大卫城,就是锡安,接上来。 以他念月,就是七月,在节期时,所有的以色列人都聚集到所罗门王那里。 以色列众长老一来到,祭司就抬起约柜。 祭司和利未人将耶和华的约柜请上来,又把会幕和会幕一切的圣器皿都带上来。 所罗门王和聚集到他那里的以色列全会众一同在约柜前献牛羊为祭,多得不可胜数,无法计算。 祭司将耶和华的约柜请进内殿,就是至圣所,安置在两个基路伯的翅膀底下约柜的地方。 基路伯张开翅膀在约柜上面的地方,从上面遮住约柜和抬柜的杠。 这杠很长,从内殿前的圣所可以看见杠头,从外面却看不见。这杠直到今日还在那里。 约柜里没有别的,只有两块石版,就是以色列人出埃及地,耶和华与他们立约的时候,摩西何烈山放在那里的。 10 祭司从圣所出来的时候,有云充满耶和华的殿, 11 祭司因云彩的缘故不能站立供职,因为耶和华的荣光充满了耶和华的殿。 12 那时,所罗门说:

“耶和华曾说要住在幽暗之处[a]
13 我的确为你建了一座雄伟的殿宇,
作为你永远居住的地方。”

所罗门向百姓讲话(B)

14 王转过脸来为以色列全会众祝福,以色列全会众都站立。 15 所罗门说:“耶和华—以色列的 神是应当称颂的!因他亲口向我父大卫应许的,也亲手成就了;他曾说: 16 ‘自从那日我领我百姓以色列埃及以来,我未曾在以色列各支派中选择一城,在那里为我的名建造殿宇,但我拣选大卫治理我的百姓以色列。’ 17 我父大卫的心意是要为耶和华—以色列 神的名建殿。 18 耶和华却对我父大卫说:‘你有心为我的名建殿,这心意是好的; 19 但你不可建殿,惟有你亲生的儿子才可为我的名建殿。’ 20 现在耶和华实现了他所应许的话,使我接续我父大卫以色列的王位,正如耶和华所说的,我也为耶和华—以色列 神的名建造了这殿。 21 我也在那里为约柜预备一处。约柜那里有耶和华的约,就是他领我们列祖出埃及地的时候,与他们所立的约。”

所罗门的祷告(C)

22 所罗门当着以色列全会众,站在耶和华的坛前,向天举手, 23 说:“耶和华—以色列的 神啊,天上地下没有神明可与你相比!你向那些尽心行在你面前的仆人守约施慈爱, 24 这约是你向你仆人大卫守的,是你应许他的。你亲口应许,亲手成就,正如今日一样。 25 耶和华—以色列的 神啊,你向你仆人我父大卫应许说:‘你的子孙若谨慎自己的行为,在我面前行事像你所行的一样,就不断有人在我面前坐以色列的王位。’现在求你信守这话。 26 以色列的 神啊,现在求你成就向你仆人我父大卫所应许的话。

27 “ 神果真住在地上吗?看哪,天和天上的天尚且不足容纳你,何况我所建的这殿呢? 28 惟求耶和华—我的 神垂顾仆人的祷告祈求,俯听仆人今日在你面前的祈祷呼求。 29 愿你的眼目昼夜看顾这殿,就是你说要作为你名的居所;求你垂听祷告,你仆人向此处的祷告。 30 你仆人和你百姓以色列向此处祈祷的时候,求你在你天上的居所垂听,垂听而赦免。

31 “人若得罪邻舍,有人强迫他,要他起誓,他来到这殿,在你的坛前起誓, 32 求你在天上垂听、处理,向你的仆人施行审判,定恶人有罪,照他所行的报应在他头上;定义人为义,照他的义赏赐他。

33 “你的百姓以色列若得罪你,败在仇敌面前,却又归向你,宣认你的名,在这殿里向你祈求祷告, 34 求你在天上垂听,赦免你百姓以色列的罪,使他们归回你赐给他们列祖的地。

35 “你的百姓若得罪了你,你使天闭塞不下雨;他们若向此处祷告,宣认你的名,因你的惩罚而离开他们的罪, 36 求你在天上垂听,赦免你仆人你百姓以色列的罪,将当行的善道教导他们,并降雨在你的地,就是你赐给你百姓为业之地。

37 “这地若有饥荒、瘟疫、焚风[b]、霉烂、蝗虫、蚂蚱,或有仇敌围困这地的[c]城门,无论遭遇什么灾祸疾病, 38 你的百姓以色列,或众人或一人,内心知道有祸,向这殿举手,无论祈求什么,祷告什么, 39 求你在天上你的居所垂听、赦免、处理。因为你知道人心,惟有你知道世人的心,求你照各人所行的一切待他们, 40 使他们在你赐给我们列祖的土地上一生一世敬畏你。

41 “论到不属你百姓以色列的外邦人,若为你的名从远方而来, 42 他们因听见你的大名和大能的手,以及伸出来的膀臂,来向这殿祷告, 43 求你在天上你的居所垂听,照着外邦人向你所求的一切而行,使地上万民都认识你的名,敬畏你,像你的百姓以色列一样,又使他们知道我所建造的是称为你名下的殿。

44 “你的百姓若奉你的派遣出去,无论往何处与仇敌争战,他们若向耶和华所选择的城,以及我为你名所建造的这殿祷告, 45 求你在天上垂听他们的祷告祈求,为他们伸张正义。

46 “你的百姓若得罪你,因为没有人不犯罪,你向他们发怒,把他们交在仇敌面前,掳他们的人把他们带到仇敌之地,或远或近, 47 他们若在被掳之地那里回心转意,在掳掠者之地悔改,向你恳求说:‘我们有罪了,我们悖逆了,我们作恶了’; 48 他们若在掳他们的仇敌之地尽心尽性归向你,又向自己的地,就是你赐给他们列祖的地和你所选择的城,以及我为你名所建造的这殿祷告, 49 求你在天上你的居所垂听他们的祷告祈求,为他们伸张正义, 50 饶恕得罪你的子民,赦免他们向你所犯一切的过犯,使他们在掳他们的人面前蒙怜悯。 51 因为他们是你的子民,你的产业,是你从埃及,从铁炉中领出来的。 52 愿你的眼目看顾仆人和你百姓以色列的祈求;他们无论何时向你呼求,愿你垂听。 53 主耶和华啊,你将他们从地上万民中分别出来作你的产业,是照着你领我们列祖出埃及的时候,藉你仆人摩西所应许的。”

为民祝福

54 所罗门在耶和华的坛前屈膝跪着,向天举手;他在耶和华面前祷告祈求完毕的时候,就起来, 55 站着,大声为以色列全会众祝福,说: 56 “耶和华是应当称颂的!因为他照着一切所应许的赐平安给他的百姓以色列,凡藉他仆人摩西应许赐福的话,一句都没有落空。 57 愿耶和华—我们的 神与我们同在,像与我们列祖同在一样,不撇下我们,不丢弃我们, 58 使我们的心归向他,遵行他一切的道,谨守他吩咐我们列祖的诫命、律例、典章。 59 愿我在耶和华面前祈求的这些话,昼夜靠近耶和华—我们的 神,好让他每日为他仆人和他百姓以色列伸张正义, 60 使地上的万民都知道惟独耶和华是 神,没有别的了。 61 所以你们当向耶和华—我们的 神存纯正的心,遵行他的律例,谨守他的诫命,如同今日一样。”

奉献圣殿(D)

62 王和全以色列一同在耶和华面前献祭。 63 所罗门向耶和华献平安祭,二万二千头牛,十二万只羊。这样,王和全以色列为耶和华的殿行了奉献之礼。 64 当日,王因耶和华殿前的铜坛太小,容不下燔祭、素祭和平安祭牲的脂肪,就将耶和华殿前院子的中间分别为圣,在那里献燔祭、素祭和平安祭牲的脂肪。

65 那时所罗门守节,从哈马口直到埃及溪谷的以色列众人都与他同在一起,成了一个盛大的会,在耶和华—我们的 神面前七日又七日,共十四日。 66 第八日,王遣散百姓;他们都为王祝福。他们为耶和华向他仆人大卫和他百姓以色列所施的一切恩惠都心中喜乐,愉快地各回自己的帐棚去了。

Footnotes

  1. 8.12 “耶和华…幽暗之处”:七十士译本是“主曾安置太阳在天空,却说要住在幽暗之处”;本句七十士译本放在53节。
  2. 8.37 “焚风”或译“虫害”。
  3. 8.37 “这地的”:七十士译本和其他古译本是“任何一个”。

Then Sh’lomo assembled the Zekenim of Yisroel, and all the Rashei HaMattot, the Nesi’ei HaAvot of the Bnei Yisroel, unto HaMelech Sh’lomo in Yerushalayim, that they might bring up the Aron Brit Hashem out of Ir Dovid, which is Tziyon.

And all the Ish Yisroel assembled themselves unto HaMelech Sh’lomo at the Chag [Sukkot] in the month Etanim [Tishri], which is the seventh month.

And all the Zekenim of Yisroel came, and the Kohanim took up the Aron.

And they brought up the Aron Hashem, and the Ohel Mo’ed and all the kelei hakodesh that were in the Ohel, even those did the Kohanim and the Levi’im carry up.

And Sh’lomo HaMelech, and all the Adat Yisroel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the Aron, sacrificing tzon and bakar, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

And the Kohanim brought in the Aron Brit Hashem unto its makom, in the Devir HaBayit, the Kodesh HaKodashim, even under the wings of the keruvim.

For the keruvim spread forth their kenafayim (wings) over the place of the Aron, and the keruvim overshadowed the Aron and the poles thereof.

They drew out the poles, that the ends of the poles were seen out in the Kodesh before the Devir, but they were not seen from the outside; there they are unto this day.

There was nothing in the Aron except the two Luchot HaAvanim (Tablets of Stone), which Moshe placed there at Chorev, when Hashem cut a Brit with the Bnei Yisroel, when they came out of Eretz Mitzrayim.

10 And it came to pass, when the Kohanim were come out of the Kodesh, that the anan filled the Beis Hashem,

11 So that the Kohanim could not stand up to minister because of the anan; for the Kavod Hashem had filled the Beis Hashem.

12 Then spoke Sh’lomo, Hashem said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

13 I have surely built Thee a Beis of habitation, a Makhon for Thee to abide olamim.

14 And HaMelech turned his face about, and made a brocha upon Kol Kehal Yisroel; (and Kol Kehal Yisroel were standing);

15 And he said, Baruch Hashem Elohei Yisroel, which spoke with His mouth unto Dovid Avi, and hath with His yad fulfilled it, saying,

16 Since the yom that I brought forth My people Yisroel out of Mitzrayim, I chose no ir out of all the Shivtei Yisroel to build a Beis, that Shemi might be therein; but I chose Dovid to be over My people Yisroel.

17 It was in the levav Dovid Avi to build Bayit for Shem Hashem Elohei Yisroel.

18 And Hashem said unto Dovid Avi, Whereas it was in thine lev to build a Beis unto Shemi, thou didst well that it was in thine lev.

19 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the Bayit; but thy ben that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the Bayit unto Shemi.

20 And Hashem hath fulfilled His Davar that He spoke, and I am risen up in the place of Dovid Avi, and sit on the Kisse Yisroel, just as Hashem promised, and have built Bayit for the Shem Hashem Elohei Yisroel.

21 And I have set there a Makom for the Aron, wherein is the Brit Hashem, which He cut with Avoteinu, when He brought them out of Eretz Mitzrayim.

22 And Sh’lomo stood before the Mizbe’ach Hashem in the presence of all the Kahal Yisroel, and spread forth his palms toward Shomayim;

23 And he said, Hashem Elohei Yisroel, there is no Elohim like Thee, in Shomayim above, or on HaAretz beneath, who is shomer HaBrit and keeps chesed with Thy avadim that walk before Thee with all their lev;

24 Who hast been shomer with Thy eved Dovid Avi that Thou promised him; Thou spoke also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with Thine yad, as it is this day.

25 Therefore now, Hashem Elohei Yisroel, be shomer with Thy eved Dovid Avi that Thou promised him, saying, There shall not Yikaret (be cut off, fail) thee an ish in My sight to sit on the Kisse Yisroel; so that thy banim be shomer over their derech, that they walk before Me as thou hast walked before Me.

26 And now, O Elohei Yisroel, let Thy davar now come true, which Thou spoke unto Thy eved Dovid Avi.

27 But will Elohim indeed dwell on ha’aretz? Hinei, the Shomayim and the Shemei HaShomayim cannot contain Thee; how much less this Bayit that I have built?

28 Yet turn Thou unto the tefillah of Thy eved, and to his techinnah, Hashem Elohai, to pay heed unto the cry and to the tefillah, which Thy eved is davening before Thee today;

29 That Thine eyes may be open toward this Bayit lailah va’yom, even toward the Makom of which Thou hast said, Shemi shall be there; that Thou mayest pay heed unto the tefillah which Thy eved shall make toward Makom Hazeh.

30 And pay heed Thou to the techinnah of Thy eved, and of Thy people Yisroel, when they shall daven toward Makom Hazeh; and hear Thou from Shomayim Thy dwelling place; and when Thou hearest, forgive.

31 If any ish trespass against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before Thine Mizbe’ach in this Bayit;

32 Then hear Thou in Shomayim, and do, and judge Thy avadim, condemning the rasha, to bring his derech upon his rosh; and lehatzeddik (justifying, declaring innocent and acquitted) the tzaddik, to give him according to his tzedakah.

33 When Thy people Yisroel be struck down before the oyev, because they have sinned against Thee, and shall turn back to Thee, and confess Thy Shem, and daven, and make supplication unto Thee in this Bayit:

34 Then hear Thou in Shomayim, and forgive the chattat of Thy people Yisroel, and bring them back unto HaAdamah which Thou gavest unto their Avot.

35 When Shomayim is shut up, and there is no matar (rain), because they have sinned against Thee; if they daven toward this Makom, and confess Thy Shem, and turn from their chattat, when Thou afflictest them;

36 Then hear Thou in Shomayim, and forgive the chattat of Thy avadim, and of Thy people Yisroel, that Thou teach them the Derech Hatovah wherein they should walk, and give matar (rain) upon Thy Land, which Thou hast given to Thy people for a nachalah.

37 If there be in HaAretz ra’av, if there be dever, blight, mildew, arbeh, or if there be grasshopper; if their oyev besiege them in the eretz of their she’arim; whatsoever nega (plague), whatsoever machalah (disease) there be;

38 What tefillah and techinnah be made by any adam, or by all Thy people Yisroel, which shall know every man the nega of his own levav, and spread forth his palms toward this Bayit;

39 Then hear Thou in Shomayim the Makom of Thy dwelling, and forgive, and do, and give to every ish according to his derech, whose lev Thou knowest; (for Thou, even Thou only, knowest levav kol Bnei HaAdam);

40 That they may fear Thee all hayamim that they are chayyim in the adamah which Thou gavest unto Avoteinu.

41 Moreover concerning a nokhri (foreigner), that is not of Thy people Yisroel, but cometh out of a far country for Thy Name’s sake;

42 (For they shall hear of Thy Shem HaGadol, and of Thy Yad HaChazakah, and of Thy stretched out zero’a;) and shall come and daven toward this Bayit;

43 Hear Thou in Shomayim the Makom of Thy dwelling, and do according to all that the nokhri calleth to Thee for; that all peoples of ha’aretz may know Thy Shem, to fear Thee, as do Thy people Yisroel; that they may know that this Bayit, which I have built, is called by Thy Shem.

44 If Thy people go out to milchamah against their oyev (enemy), in the derech that Thou shalt send them, and shall daven unto Hashem in the Derech HaIr which Thou hast chosen, and toward the Bayit that I have built for Thy Shem;

45 Then hear Thou in Shomayim their tefillah and their techinnah, and uphold their mishpat.

46 If they sin against Thee, (for there is no adam that sinneth not), and Thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the oyev (enemy), so that they carry them away captives unto the eretz of the oyev, far or near;

47 Yet if they make in their lev teshuvah in HaAretz where they were carried captives, and turn, and make techinnah unto Thee in the eretz of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;

48 And so return unto Thee with all their lev, and with all their nefesh, in the eretz of their enemies, which led them away captive, and daven unto Thee in the derech (direction) of their land, which Thou gavest unto their Avot, the Ir which Thou hast chosen, and the Bayit which I have built for Thy Shem;

49 Then hear Thou their tefillah and their techinnah in Shomayim, the Makom of Thy dwelling, and uphold their cause,

50 And forgive Thy people that have sinned against Thee, and all their peysha’im wherein they have rebelled against Thee, and give them rachamim before them who carried them captive, that they may have rachamim on them;

51 For they are Thy people, and Thine nachalah, which Thou broughtest forth out of Mitzrayim, from the midst of the Kur HaBarzel (Furnace of Iron):

52 That Thine eyes may be open unto the techinnah of Thy eved, and unto the techinnah of Thy people Yisroel, to pay heed unto them in all that they call for unto Thee.

53 For Thou didst separate them from among all the peoples of HaAretz, to be Thine nachalah, as Thou spoke by the yad Moshe Thy Eved, when Thou broughtest Avoteinu out of Mitzrayim, Adonoi Hashem,

54 And it was so, that when Sh’lomo had completed davening all this tefillah and techinnah unto Hashem, he arose from before the Mizbe’ach Hashem, from having knelt on his knees with his palms spread up to Shomayim.

55 And he stood, and made on Kol Kehal Yisroel a brocha with a kol gadol (loud voice), saying,

56 Baruch Hashem, that hath given menuchah unto His people Yisroel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one davar of all His good promise, which He promised by yad Moshe His Eved.

57 Hashem Eloheinu be immanu (with us), as He was with Avoteinu; let Him not leave us, nor forsake us;

58 That He may incline levavenu (our hearts) unto Him, to walk in all his ways, and to be shomer over His mitzvot, and His chukkot, and His mishpatim, which He commanded Avoteinu.

59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made techinnah before Hashem, be kerovim (near ones) unto Hashem Eloheinu yomam valailah that He maintain the mishpat (cause) of His eved, and the mishpat of His people Yisroel at all times, as each day requires;

60 That all the peoples of ha’aretz may know that Hashem hu HaElohim and that there is none else.

61 Let your lev therefore be shalem with Hashem Eloheinu, to walk in His chukkot, to be shomer over His mitzvot, as at this day.

62 And HaMelech, and kol Yisroel with him, offered zevach (sacrifice) before Hashem.

63 And Sh’lomo offered a zevach hashelamim (sacrifice of peace offerings), which he offered unto Hashem, two and twenty thousand bakar, and a hundred and twenty thousand tzon (sheep). So HaMelech and kol Bnei Yisroel dedicated the Beis Hashem.

64 The same day did HaMelech consecrate as kodesh the interior of the Khatzer (Court) that was before the Beis Hashem; for there he offered olah and minchah, and the chelvei hashelamim because the Mitzbe’ach HaNechoshet that was before Hashem was too katon (small) to receive the olah, and minchah, and the chelvei hashelamim.

65 And at that time Sh’lomo observed a Chag, and kol Yisroel with him, a Kahal Gadol, from the Approach of Chamat unto the Wadi Mitzrayim, before Hashem Eloheinu, shivat yamim and shivat yamim, even arba’a asar yom.

66 On the Yom HaShemini he sent away the people and they made on HaMelech a brocha, and went unto their ohalim joyful and glad of lev for all hatovah (the goodness) that Hashem had done for Dovid His Eved and for Yisroel His People.

The Ark Brought to the Temple(A)

Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs(B) of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark(C) of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David.(D) All the Israelites came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival(E) in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.(F)

When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests(G) took up the ark, and they brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting(H) and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites(I) carried them up, and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing(J) so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant(K) to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place,(L) and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.(M) The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed(N) the ark and its carrying poles. These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today.(O) There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets(P) that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud(Q) filled the temple of the Lord. 11 And the priests could not perform their service(R) because of the cloud, for the glory(S) of the Lord filled his temple.

12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;(T) 13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell(U) forever.”

14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed(V) them. 15 Then he said:

“Praise be to the Lord,(W) the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, 16 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt,(X) I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name(Y) might be there, but I have chosen(Z) David(AA) to rule my people Israel.’

17 “My father David had it in his heart(AB) to build a temple(AC) for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 19 Nevertheless, you(AD) are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’(AE)

20 “The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded(AF) David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built(AG) the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(AH)

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands(AI) toward heaven 23 and said:

Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like(AJ) you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love(AK) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

25 “Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises(AL) you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised(AM) your servant David my father come true.

27 “But will God really dwell(AN) on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven,(AO) cannot contain(AP) you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open(AQ) toward(AR) this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name(AS) shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray(AT) toward this place. Hear(AU) from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.(AV)

31 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath(AW) before your altar in this temple, 32 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.(AX)

33 “When your people Israel have been defeated(AY) by an enemy because they have sinned(AZ) against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,(BA) 34 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.

35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(BB) because your people have sinned(BC) against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach(BD) them the right way(BE) to live, and send rain(BF) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

37 “When famine(BG) or plague(BH) comes to the land, or blight(BI) or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers,(BJ) or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands(BK) toward this temple— 39 then hear(BL) from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive(BM) and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know(BN) their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), 40 so that they will fear(BO) you all the time they live in the land(BP) you gave our ancestors.

41 “As for the foreigner(BQ) who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear(BR) of your great name and your mighty hand(BS) and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know(BT) your name and fear(BU) you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.(BV)

44 “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray(BW) to the Lord toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 45 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.(BX)

46 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin(BY)—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive(BZ) to their own lands, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead(CA) with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’;(CB) 48 and if they turn back(CC) to you with all their heart(CD) and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray(CE) to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple(CF) I have built for your Name;(CG) 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy;(CH) 51 for they are your people and your inheritance,(CI) whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.(CJ)

52 “May your eyes be open(CK) to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you.(CL) 53 For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance,(CM) just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”

54 When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. 55 He stood and blessed(CN) the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

56 “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest(CO) to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises(CP) he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake(CQ) us. 58 May he turn our hearts(CR) to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60 so that all the peoples(CS) of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other.(CT) 61 And may your hearts(CU) be fully committed(CV) to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

The Dedication of the Temple(CW)

62 Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices(CX) before the Lord. 63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated(CY) the temple of the Lord.

64 On that same day the king consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings and the fat(CZ) of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar(DA) that stood before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings.(DB)

65 So Solomon observed the festival(DC) at that time, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath(DD) to the Wadi of Egypt.(DE) They celebrated it before the Lord our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all. 66 On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good(DF) things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people Israel.