Solomon’s Dedication of the Temple

(A)Then Solomon said,

“The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.
I have built You a lofty house,
And a place for Your dwelling forever.”

Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. He said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and fulfilled it with His hands, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, so that My name might be there, nor did I choose a man to be the leader over My people Israel; but (B)I have chosen Jerusalem so that My name might be there, and I (C)have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ (D)Now it was [a]in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was [b]in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was [c]in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who [d]will be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.’ 10 Now the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord [e]promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the ark (E)in which is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with the sons of Israel.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:7 Lit with
  2. 2 Chronicles 6:8 Lit with
  3. 2 Chronicles 6:8 Lit with
  4. 2 Chronicles 6:9 Lit will come forth from your loins
  5. 2 Chronicles 6:10 Lit spoke

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

Then (A)Solomon spoke:

“The Lord said He would dwell in the (B)dark cloud.
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)

Then the king turned around and (E)blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 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, ‘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. (G)Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I (H)have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ 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. 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. 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.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:7 Lit. house, and so in vv. 8–10