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Then said Solomon: “The Lord hath said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.

But I have built a house of habitation for Thee, and a place for Thy dwelling for ever.”

And the king turned his face and blessed the whole congregation of Israel, and all the congregation of Israel stood.

And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hathwith His hands fulfilled that which He spoke with His mouth to my ather David, saying,

‘Since the day that I brought forth My people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build house in, that My name might be there, neither chose I any man to be a ruler over My people Israel;

but I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there, and have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

But the Lord said to David my father: ‘Inasmuch as it was in thine heart to build a house for My name, thou didst well in that t was in thine heart.

Notwithstanding, thou shalt not build the house; but thy son who shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house or My name.’

10 The Lord therefore hath performed His word that He hath spoken; for I have risen up in the place of David my father and m set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

11 And in it have I put the ark wherein is the covenant of the Lord that He made with the children of Israel.”

12 And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands.

13 For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold of five cubits long and five cubits broad and three cubits high, and had set it in he midst of the court; and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread orth his hands toward heaven

14 and said, “O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in the heaven nor in the earth, who keepest covenant and showest mercy unto Thy servants who walk before Thee with all their hearts—

15 Thou who hast kept with Thy servant David my father that which Thou hast promised him and spokest with Thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with Thine hand, as it is this day.

16 Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with Thy servant David my father that which Thou hast promised him, saying, ‘There shall not fail thee a man in My sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet only that thy children take heed to their way, to alk in My law as thou hast walked before Me.’

17 Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let Thy word be verified, which Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant David.

18 “But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have built!

19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of Thy servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which Thy servant prayeth before Thee:

20 that Thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof Thou hast said that Thou wouldest put Thy name there, to hearken unto the prayer which Thy servant prayeth toward this place.

21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of Thy servant and of Thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place. Hear Thou from Thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when Thou hearest, forgive.

22 “If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before Thine altar in this house,

23 then hear Thou from heaven, and do, and judge Thy servants by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head, and by justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

24 “And if Thy people Israel be smitten before the enemy because they have sinned against Thee, and shall return and confess Thy name, and pray and make supplication before Thee in this house,

25 then hear Thou from the heavens and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which Thou gavest to them and to their fathers.

26 “When the heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against Thee, yet if they pray toward this place and confess Thy name, and turn from their sin when Thou dost afflict them,

27 then hear Thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy servants and of Thy people Israel when Thou hast taught them the good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon Thy land which Thou hast given unto Thy people for an inheritance.

28 “If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blight or mildew, locusts or caterpillars, if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land, whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be;

29 what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made by any man or by all Thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house—

30 then hear Thou from heaven, Thy dwelling place, and forgive and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart Thou knowest (for Thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men),

31 that they may fear Thee, to walk in Thy ways so long as they live in the land which Thou gavest unto our fathers.

32 “Moreover concerning the stranger, who is not of Thy people Israel, but has come from a far country for Thy great name’s sake and Thy mighty hand and Thy stretched out arm: if they come and pray in this house,

33 then hear Thou from the heavens, even from Thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to Thee for, that all people of the earth may know Thy name and fear Thee, as doth Thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by Thy name.

34 “If Thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that Thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Thee toward this city which Thou hast chosen and the house which I have built for Thy name,

35 then hear Thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

36 “If they sin against Thee (for there is no man who sinneth not), and Thou be angry with them and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near,

37 yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto Thee in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done amiss and have dealt wickedly’;

38 if they return to Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land which Thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name—

39 then hear Thou from the heavens, even from Thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Thy people who have sinned against Thee.

40 Now, my God, let, I beseech Thee, Thine eyes be open, and let Thine ears be attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place.

41 “Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into Thy resting place, Thou, and the ark of Thy strength. Let Thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let Thy saints rejoice in goodness.

42 O Lord God, turn not away the face of Thine anointed. Remember the mercies of David Thy servant.”

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’S house.

And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.”

Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.

And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep; so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

And the priests attended to their offices. The Levites also, with instruments of music of the Lord which David the king had made to praise the Lord (because His mercy endureth for ever), when David offered praise by their ministry; and the priests ounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord; for there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings and the meat offerings and the fat.

Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days.

10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shown unto David and to Solomon and to Israel His people.

11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house; and all that came into Solomon’s heart to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said unto him: “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself for a house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land or if I send pestilence among My people,

14 if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

15 Now Mine eyes shall be open and Mine ears attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place.

16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there for ever; and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.

17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before Me as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe My statutes and My judgments,

18 then will I establish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, ‘There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.’

19 “But if ye turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods and worship them,

20 then will I pluck them up by the roots out of My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name will I cast out of My sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one who passeth by it, so that he shall say, ‘Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land and unto this house?’

22 And it shall be answered, ‘Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore hath He brought all this evil upon them.’”

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;(A) I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.(B)

While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. Then he said:

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem(C) for my Name(D) to be there, and I have chosen David(E) to rule my people Israel.’

“My father David had it in his heart(F) to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’

10 “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant(G) of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(H)(I)

12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Now he had made a bronze platform,(J) five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high,[a] and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down(K) before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said:

Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you(L) in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love(M) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised(N) and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

16 “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail(O) to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law,(P) as you have done.’ 17 And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

18 “But will God really dwell(Q) on earth with humans? The heavens,(R) even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes(S) be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name(T) there. May you hear(U) the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 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, forgive.(V)

22 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath(W) and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, 23 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning(X) the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.

24 “When your people Israel have been defeated(Y) by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making 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 you gave to them and their ancestors.

26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(Z) because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive(AA) the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

28 “When famine(AB) or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 29 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— 30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive,(AC) and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart),(AD) 31 so that they will fear you(AE) and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

32 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come(AF) from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand(AG) and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 33 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner(AH) asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

34 “When your people go to war against their enemies,(AI) wherever you send them, and when they pray(AJ) to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.

36 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin(AK)—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive(AL) to a land far away or near; 37 and if they have a change of heart(AM) in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; 38 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive(AN) your people, who have sinned against you.

40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive(AO) to the prayers offered in this place.

41 “Now arise,(AP) Lord God, and come to your resting place,(AQ)
    you and the ark of your might.
May your priests,(AR) Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
    may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.(AS)
42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.(AT)
    Remember the great love(AU) promised to David your servant.”

The Dedication of the Temple(AV)

When Solomon finished praying, fire(AW) came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled(AX) the temple.(AY) The priests could not enter(AZ) the temple of the Lord because the glory(BA) of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,

“He is good;
    his love endures forever.”(BB)

Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. The priests took their positions, as did the Levites(BC) with the Lord’s musical instruments,(BD) which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat(BE) of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.

So Solomon observed the festival(BF) at that time for seven days, and all Israel(BG) with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath(BH) to the Wadi of Egypt.(BI) On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated(BJ) the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival(BK) for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the Lord had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel.

The Lord Appears to Solomon(BL)

11 When Solomon had finished(BM) the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, 12 the Lord appeared(BN) to him at night and said:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen(BO) this place for myself(BP) as a temple for sacrifices.

13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain,(BQ) or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name,(BR) will humble(BS) themselves and pray and seek my face(BT) and turn(BU) from their wicked ways, then I will hear(BV) from heaven, and I will forgive(BW) their sin and will heal(BX) their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.(BY) 16 I have chosen(BZ) and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

17 “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully(CA) as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees(CB) and laws, 18 I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted(CC) with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor(CD) to rule over Israel.’(CE)

19 “But if you[b] turn away(CF) and forsake(CG) the decrees and commands I have given you[c] and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot(CH) Israel from my land,(CI) which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule(CJ) among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All[d] who pass by will be appalled(CK) and say,(CL) ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them(CM)—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:13 That is, about 7 1/2 feet long and wide and 4 1/2 feet high or about 2.3 meters long and wide and 1.4 meters high
  2. 2 Chronicles 7:19 The Hebrew is plural.
  3. 2 Chronicles 7:19 The Hebrew is plural.
  4. 2 Chronicles 7:21 See some Septuagint manuscripts, Old Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Targum; Hebrew And though this temple is now so imposing, all

136 O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of gods, for His mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His mercy endureth for ever;

to Him who alone doeth great wonders, for His mercy endureth for ever;

to Him that by wisdom made the heavens, for His mercy endureth for ever;

to Him that stretched out the earth above the waters, for His mercy endureth for ever;

to Him that made great lights, for His mercy endureth for ever;

the sun to rule by day, for His mercy endureth for ever;

the moon and stars to rule by night, for His mercy endureth for ever;

10 to Him that smote Egypt in their firstborn, for His mercy endureth for ever;

11 and brought out Israel from among them, for His mercy endureth for ever;

12 with a strong hand and with a stretched out arm, for His mercy endureth for ever;

13 to Him who divided the Red Sea into parts, for His mercy endureth for ever;

14 and made Israel to pass through the midst of it, for His mercy endureth for ever;

15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for His mercy endureth for ever;

16 to Him who led His people through the wilderness, for His mercy endureth for ever;

17 to Him who smote great kings, for His mercy endureth for ever;

18 and slew famous kings, for His mercy endureth for ever;

19 Sihon king of the Amorites, for His mercy endureth for ever;

20 and Og the king of Bashan, for His mercy endureth for ever;

21 and gave their land as a heritage, for His mercy endureth for ever;

22 even a heritage unto Israel His servant, for His mercy endureth for ever;

23 who remembered us in our low estate, for His mercy endureth for ever;

24 and hath redeemed us from our enemies, for His mercy endureth for ever;

25 who giveth food to all flesh, for His mercy endureth for ever:

26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven, for His mercy endureth for ever!

Psalm 136

Give thanks(A) to the Lord, for he is good.(B)
His love endures forever.(C)
Give thanks(D) to the God of gods.(E)
His love endures forever.
Give thanks(F) to the Lord of lords:(G)
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,(H)
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding(I) made the heavens,(J)
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth(K) upon the waters,(L)
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights(M)
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern(N) the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn(O) of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out(P) from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand(Q) and outstretched arm;(R)
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a](S) asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through(T) the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;(U)
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;(V)
His love endures forever.

17 to him who struck down great kings,(W)
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings(X)
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites(Y)
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan(Z)
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land(AA) as an inheritance,(AB)
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance(AC) to his servant Israel.(AD)
His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us(AE) in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us(AF) from our enemies.(AG)
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food(AH) to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks(AI) to the God of heaven.(AJ)
His love endures forever.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15