2 Chronicles 6
Expanded Bible
Solomon Speaks to the People
6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord said he would live in the ·dark cloud [thick cloud; thick cloud of darkness]. 2 Lord, I have built a ·wonderful [magnificent; glorious; lofty] ·Temple [L house] for you—a place for you to ·live [dwell] forever.”
3 While all the ·Israelites [L community of Israel] were standing there, King Solomon turned to them and blessed them. 4 Then he said, “·Praise [Bless] the Lord, the God of Israel. He has ·done [L fulfilled with his hand] what he ·promised [spoke] to my father David [2 Sam. 7:1–16]. The Lord said, 5 ‘Since the ·time [L day] I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel where a ·Temple [L house] will be built for ·me [L my name to be there]. I did not choose a man to ·lead [rule] my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem ·as the place I am to be worshiped [L for my name to be], and I have chosen David to ·lead [rule] my people Israel.’
7 “My father David wanted to build a ·Temple [L house] for ·the [L the name of the] Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘·It was good that you [You did well to have] wanted to build a ·Temple [L house] for me. 9 But you are not the one to build it. Your son, who ·comes from your own body [will be born to you], is the one who will build ·my Temple [L the house for my name].’
10 “Now the Lord has ·kept his promise [L established the word he spoke]. I am the king now in place of David my father. Now I ·rule [L sit on the throne of] Israel as the Lord promised, and I have built the ·Temple [L house] for ·the [L the name of the] Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have put the Ark, in which is the ·Agreement [covenant; treaty] the Lord made with the ·Israelites [people of Israel].”
Solomon’s Prayer
12 Then Solomon stood ·facing [L before] the Lord’s altar, ·and all the Israelites were standing behind him [L in the presence of the assembly/community of Israel]. He ·spread out [lifted] his hands. 13 He had made a bronze platform ·seven and one-half feet [L five cubits] long, ·seven and one-half feet [L five cubits] wide, and ·seven and one-half feet [L five cubits] high, and he had placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard. Solomon stood on the platform. Then he kneeled in front of all the ·people [L assembly; community] of Israel gathered there, and he spread out his hands toward ·the sky [heaven]. 14 He said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no god [C no true God] like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your ·agreement of love with [covenant/treaty and show unfailing love/loyalty to] your servants who ·truly follow [wholeheartedly/devotedly walk before] you. 15 You have kept the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You spoke it with your own mouth and finished it with your hands today.
16 “Now, Lord, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You said, ‘If your sons ·are careful [guard their steps] ·to obey my teachings [L and walk in my laws] as you have ·obeyed [L walked], ·there will always be someone from your family [you will never fail to have someone] ·ruling [L sitting on the throne of] Israel.’ 17 Now, Lord, God of Israel, ·please continue to keep that promise you made [fulfill this word you have spoken] to your servant.
18 “But, ·God, can you [will God] really live here on the earth with ·people [mortals]? The ·sky and the highest place in heaven [heavens, even the highest heavens,] cannot contain you. ·Surely this house which I have built cannot contain you [How much less this temple/L house I have built]. 19 But ·please listen [listen favorably; attend] to my prayer and my request, because I am your servant. Lord my God, hear this ·prayer [cry] your servant prays to you. 20 Day and night please watch over this ·Temple [L house] where you have said you would ·be worshiped [L put your name]. Hear the prayer I pray facing this place. 21 Hear ·my prayers and the prayers of [L the pleas/entreaties/T supplications of your servant and] your people Israel when we pray facing this place. Hear from your home in heaven, and when you hear, forgive us.
22 “If someone ·wrongs another person [sins against his neighbor], he will be brought to the altar in this ·Temple [L house]. If he swears an oath [C that he is innocent], 23 then hear in heaven and act. Judge ·the case [L between your servants; C the accuser and the accused], ·punish [condemn; repay] the guilty, but ·declare that [justify; acquit] the ·innocent person is not guilty [righteous because of their innocence/righteousness].
24 “·When [If] your people, the Israelites, sin against you, their enemies will defeat them. But if they ·come back [return] to you and ·praise you [acknowledge/confess your name] and pray and ·appeal [T make supplication] to you in this ·Temple [L house], 25 then ·listen [hear] from heaven. Forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ·ancestors [fathers].
26 “When they sin against you, you will ·stop the rain from falling on their land [shut up the heavens/sky and stop the rain]. Then they will pray, facing this place and ·praising you [acknowledge/confess your name]; they will stop sinning ·when [because] you ·make them suffer [punish/afflict them]. 27 When this happens, hear their prayer in heaven, and forgive the sins of your servants, the Israelites. Teach them ·to do what is right [the right way to live; L the good way in which they should walk]. Then please send rain to ·this [L your] land you have given ·particularly to them [L to your people as an inheritance/special possession].
28 “·At times the land will get so dry that no food will grow [L If there is famine in the land…], or ·a great sickness will spread among the people [a plague; pestilence…]. ·Sometimes [L …or if…] the crops will be destroyed by blight, mildew, locusts, or grasshoppers. ·Your [L …or if…] people will be attacked in their cities by their enemies, or will become sick. 29 ·When any of these things [—whatever plague/disaster or disease] happens, ·the [L …and if the…] people will ·become truly sorry [pray about their troubles/affliction and pain/sorrows…]. ·If [L …and] your people spread their hands in prayer toward this ·Temple [L house], 30 then hear their prayers from your home in heaven. Forgive and ·treat [deal with] each person as he ·should be treated [deserves] because you know what is in a person’s heart. Only you know ·what is in people’s hearts [the human heart]. 31 Then the people will ·respect [fear; revere; honor] and ·obey you [L walk in your ways] as long as they live in this land you gave our ·ancestors [fathers].
32 “People who are not Israelites, foreigners from other lands, will hear about your ·greatness [L great name] and ·power [L mighty hand and outstretched arm]. They will come from far away to pray ·at this Temple [L toward this house]. 33 Then hear from your home in heaven, and ·do [grant; answer] whatever they ask you. Then ·people everywhere [L all the peoples of the earth] will know ·you [L your name] and ·respect [fear; revere; acknowledge] you, just as your people Israel do. Then everyone will know that I built this ·Temple [L house] as a place to ·worship you [L bear your name].
34 “When your people go out to fight their enemies ·along some road on which [by whichever way] you send them, your people will pray to you, ·facing [toward] this city which you have chosen and the ·Temple [L house] I have built for ·you [L your name]. 35 Then hear in heaven their prayers and their ·plea [T supplication], and ·do what is right [uphold their cause; vindicate them].
36 “·Everyone sins, so your people will also sin against you [When/If your people sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—…]. You will become angry with them and will ·hand them over [deliver them] to their enemies. Their enemies will capture them and take them away to a country far or near. 37 ·Your people will be sorry for their sins [If they stop and think/come to their senses…] when they are held as ·prisoners [captives] in another country. ·They will be sorry […and they repent…] and ·pray [plead; make supplication] to you in the land ·where they are held as prisoners [of their captivity], saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done ·wrong [evil] and acted wickedly.’ 38 ·They will truly turn back to you […and they return to you with all their heart and soul/being] in the land where they are captives. ·They will […and they] pray, ·facing this [toward the] land you gave their ·ancestors [fathers], this city you have chosen, and the ·Temple [L house] I have built for ·you [L your name…]. 39 Then hear their prayers and their ·plea [T supplication] from your home in heaven, and ·do what is right [uphold their cause; vindicate them]. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 “Now, my God, ·look at us. Listen [L …may your eyes be open and your ears attentive] to the prayers we pray in this place.
41 Now, ·rise [ascend], Lord God, and ·come to [enter] your resting place.
Come with the ·Ark of the Agreement that shows your strength [L ark of your might/power].
Let your priests ·receive [L be clothed with] your salvation, Lord God,
and may your ·holy people [godly/faithful ones] ·be happy because of your goodness [rejoice in what is good].
42 Lord God, do not ·reject [turn away from] your ·appointed [anointed] ·one [or ones].
Remember your ·love [unfailing love; lovingkindness; loyalty] for your servant David [Ps. 132:1, 8–10].”
2 Chronicles 6
Modern English Version
6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would dwell in the dark cloud. 2 But I have built for You an exalted house, even a habitation where You can continually dwell.”
Solomon’s Speech
3 Then the king turned his face around, and he blessed the entire assembly of Israel while all the assembly of Israel was standing before him. 4 And he said:
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who spoke with David my father and fulfilled His promise saying, 5 ‘Since the day that I brought out My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose any city from among the tribes of Israel to build a house for My name to dwell there, nor did I select a man to be the leader over My people Israel; 6 but I have chosen Jerusalem for My name to dwell there, and I have selected David to be over My people Israel.’
7 “And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well because of what was in your heart; 9 only you will not be the one to build the house. For your son, who will be born to you, he will build a house for My name.’
10 “The Lord has fulfilled the word that He spoke. For I have risen up in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord spoke, and I will build the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 11 And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that He made with the children of Israel.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(A)
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord before all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 For Solomon made a bronze platform and set it in the midst of the enclosure. It was five cubits in length, five cubits in width, and three cubits in height.[a] And he stood on it and knelt down before all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands to heaven. 14 And he said:
“O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like You in the heavens or on the earth, who keeps covenants and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their heart. 15 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.
16 “And now, O Lord God of Israel, keep what You promised Your servant David my father saying, ‘You will not lack a man sitting on the throne of Israel before Me, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17 And now, O Lord God of Israel, may Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David.
18 “For will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, are not able to contain You, much less this house that I have built. 19 But respond to the prayer of Your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and prayer of Your servant who prays before You, 20 that Your eyes might be open toward this house both day and night, to the place that You have said that You will set Your name, in order to hear the prayer of Your servant for this place. 21 And listen to the pleas of Your servant and Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. And may You respond from heaven, the place of Your dwelling, so that You hear and forgive.
22 “If a man sins against his companion, and the companion swears and puts him under a curse, and the wronged man comes with an oath before Your altar at this temple, 23 then You will hear from heaven, and You will act and judge Your servants, to repay the guilty one by bringing his way on his own head; and to vindicate the innocent one by rendering to him according to his righteous behavior.
24 “If Your people Israel are struck before enemies because they have sinned against You, and they return and confess Your name and pray and seek Your favor in this house, 25 then You will hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and You will bring them back to the land that You gave them and their fathers.
26 “When the sky is 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, 27 then You will hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel because You will teach them the good path in which they will walk, and You will send rain on the land that You have given to Your people as a possession.
28 “When there is famine in the land or when there is pestilence, blight, mildew, winged locust, or grasshopper, or when enemies besiege them in the land up to their city gates, in whatever plague or sickness, 29 whatever prayer or plea that is made by any man or by all your people Israel, when each man knows his own affliction and his own sorrow, and stretches out his hands toward this house, 30 then You will hear from heaven, the place of the habitation of Your dwelling, and forgive, and You will render to each according to his conduct, for You know their hearts (for You alone know the heart of people), 31 so that they may fear You and walk in Your ways all the days that they live on the land that You have given to our fathers.
32 “When foreigners are not from Your people Israel and come from a distant land, because of Your great name, mighty hand, and outstretched arm, and they come and pray toward this house, 33 then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and act on everything for which the foreigner calls on You, that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel; and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.
34 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, in the way that You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city that You have chosen and the house that I have built for Your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and plea and act for their cause.
36 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin) and You are angry against them and give them to their enemies, and they are taken captive to a land, whether distant or near, 37 and they turn their hearts in the land that they have been taken captive, and they repent and seek Your favor in the land of captivity saying, ‘We have sinned, done wrong, and acted wickedly,’ 38 and if they turn in repentance to You with all their heart and all their soul in the land of their captivity that they were taken to, and pray toward the land that You have given to their fathers, and toward the city that You have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for Your name, 39 then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and supplication, and maintain their cause, and forgive the people who have sinned against You.
40 “Now, O my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer that I offer in this place.
41 “Now rise up, O Lord God, to Your resting place,
both You and the ark of Your strength.
And let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed in salvation
and Your loyal ones rejoice in goodness.
42 O Lord God, do not turn Your face from Your anointed.
Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 6:13 About 7½ feet long and wide, and 4½ feet high; or 2.3 meters long and wide, and 1.4 meters high.
2 Chronicles 6
New King James Version
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
6 Then (A)Solomon spoke:
“The Lord said He would dwell in the (B)dark cloud.
2 I have surely built You an exalted house,
And (C)a place for You to dwell in forever.”
Solomon’s Speech upon Completion of the Work(D)
3 Then the king turned around and (E)blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 4 And he said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, (F)saying, 5 ‘Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man to be a ruler over My people Israel. 6 (G)Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I (H)have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ 7 Now (I)it was in the heart of my father David to build a [a]temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart. 9 Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My (J)name.’ 10 So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and (K)sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 11 And there I have put the ark, (L)in which is the covenant of the Lord which He made with the children of Israel.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(M)
12 (N)Then [b]Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands 13 (for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven); 14 and he said: “Lord God of Israel, (O)there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your (P)covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 15 (Q)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. 16 Therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, (R)‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, (S)only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17 And now, O Lord God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David.
18 “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? (T)Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this [c]temple which I have built! 19 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: 20 that Your eyes may be (U)open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes (V)toward this place. 21 And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, (W)forgive.
22 “If anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an (X)oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, 23 then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his (Y)righteousness.
24 “Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an (Z)enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers.
26 “When the (AA)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, 27 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.
28 “When there (AB)is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever (AC)sickness there is; 29 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple: 30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone (AD)know the (AE)hearts of the sons of men), 31 that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.
32 “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, (AF)who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple; 33 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that [d]this temple which I have built is called by Your name.
34 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
36 “When they sin against You (for there is (AG)no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them (AH)captive to a land far or near; 37 yet when they [e]come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness’; 38 and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the (AI)city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name: 39 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You. 40 Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be (AJ)open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.
41 “Now(AK) therefore,
Arise, O Lord God, to Your (AL)resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.
Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
And let Your saints (AM)rejoice in goodness.
42 “O Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed;
(AN)Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 6:7 Lit. house, and so in vv. 8–10
- 2 Chronicles 6:12 Lit. he
- 2 Chronicles 6:18 Lit. house
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 Lit. Your name is called upon this house
- 2 Chronicles 6:37 Lit. bring back to their hearts
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
