2 Chronicles 6:1-21

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Dedication of the Temple

6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would reside in thick darkness.^{(A) 2} I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell forever.”

³ Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. ⁴ And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David, saying, ⁵ ‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any of the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, so that my name might be there, and I chose no one as ruler over my people Israel, ⁶ but I have chosen Jerusalem in order that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’^{(B) 7} My father David had it in mind to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.^{(C) 8} But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to consider building a house for my name; ⁹ nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ ¹⁰ Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made, for I have succeeded my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹¹ There I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”^(D)

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

¹² Then Solomon^[a] stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.^{(E) 13} Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high and had set it in the court, and he stood on it. Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.^{(F) 14} He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart^(G)— ¹⁵ you who have kept for your servant, my father David, what you promised to him. Indeed, you promised with your mouth and this day have fulfilled with your hand.^{(H) 16} 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 keep to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’^{(I) 17} Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed that you promised to your servant David.

¹⁸ “But will God indeed dwell with mortals on earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built!^{(J) 19} Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you. ²⁰ May your eyes be open day and night toward this house, the place where you promised to set your name, and may you heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. ²¹ And hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; may you hear from heaven your dwelling place; hear and forgive.^(K)