2 Chronicles 6:12-21

Living Bible

^12-13 As he spoke, Solomon was standing before the people on a platform in the center of the outer court, in front of the altar of the Lord. The platform was made of bronze, 7-1/2 feet square and 4-1/2 feet high. Now, as all the people watched, he knelt down, reached out his arms toward heaven, and prayed this prayer:

¹⁴ “O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You are the God who keeps his kind promises to all those who obey you and who are anxious to do your will. ¹⁵ And you have kept your promise to my father David,^[a] as is evident today. ¹⁶ And now, O God of Israel, carry out your further promise to him that ‘your descendants shall always reign over Israel if they will obey my laws as you have.’ ¹⁷ Yes, Lord God of Israel, please fulfill this promise too. ¹⁸ But will God really live upon the earth with men? Why, even the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you—how much less this Temple I have built!

¹⁹ “How I pray that you will heed my prayers, O Lord my God! Listen to my prayer that I am praying to you now! ^20-21 Look down with favor day and night upon this Temple—upon this place where you have said that you would put your name. May you always hear and answer the prayers I will pray to you as I face toward this place. Listen to my prayers and to those of your people Israel when they pray toward this Temple; yes, hear us from heaven, and when you hear, forgive.