1 Kings 8:22-36

New American Standard Bible

The Prayer of Dedication

²² Then ^(A)Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and he ^(B)spread out his hands toward heaven. ²³ And he said, “Lord, God of Israel, ^(C)there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, ^(D)keeping 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 ^[a]promised 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 ^[b]promised him, saying, ‘^[c](E)You 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, ^(F)which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.

²⁷ “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, ^(G)heaven and the ^[d]highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! ²⁸ Nevertheless, turn Your attention to the ^(H)prayer 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 (I)so that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward ^(J)the 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 ^(K)listen to the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel, ^(L)when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and ^(M)forgive!

³¹ “^(N)If 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, ^(O)condemning the wicked by ^[e]bringing his way on his own head, and acquitting the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

³³ “^(P)When Your people Israel are ^[f]defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, ^(Q)if they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and implore Your ^[g]favor 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 “^(R)When 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; ^(S)indeed, teach them the good way in which they are to walk. And ^(T)provide rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.