1 Kings 8:22-32

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands to heaven.^{(A) 23} He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart,^{(B) 24} the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. ²⁵ Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, ‘There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’^{(C) 26} Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed that you promised to your servant my father David.^(D)

²⁷ “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built!^{(E) 28} Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today, ²⁹ that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place.^{(F) 30} Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; hear and forgive.^(G)

³¹ “If someone sins against a neighbor and is required to take an oath and comes and swears before your altar in this house,^{(H) 32} then hear in heaven, and act, and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing their conduct on their own heads and vindicating the righteous by rewarding them according to their righteousness.^(I)