1 Then spoke Solomon, Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the
thick darkness. 2 But I have built you a house of habitation, and a place
for you to dwell in forever. 3 The king turned his face, and blessed all
the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood. 4 He said,
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my
father, and has with his hands fulfilled it, saying, 5 Since the day that
I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of
all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there;
neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel: 6 but I have
chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be
over my people Israel. 7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to
build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 8 But Yahweh said
to David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my
name, you did well that it was in your heart: 9 nevertheless you shall not
build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your loins, he
shall build the house for my name. 10 Yahweh has performed his word that
he spoke; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the
throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name
of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 11 There have I set the ark, in which is the
covenant of Yahweh, which he made with the children of Israel. 12 He stood
before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and
spread forth his hands 13 (for Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, five
cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in
the midst of the court; and on it he stood, and kneeled down on his knees
before all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;)
14 and he said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you,
in heaven, or on earth; who keep covenant and loving kindness with your
servants, who walk before you with all their heart; 15 who have kept with
your servant David my father that which you did promise him: yes, you spoke
with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day.
16 Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your servant
David my father that which you have promised him, saying, There shall not
fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your
children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before
me. 17 Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, let your word be
verified, which you spoke to your servant David. 18 But will God in very
deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens
can't contain you; how much less this house which I have built! 19 Yet
have you respect to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication,
Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant
prays before you; 20 that your eyes may be open toward this house day and
night, even toward the place whereof you have said that you would put your
name there; to listen to the prayer which your servant shall pray toward this
place. 21 Listen you to the petitions of your servant, and of your people
Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yes, hear from your
dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive. 22 If a man
sin against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear,
and he comes and swears before your altar in this house; 23 then hear from
heaven, and do, and judge your servants, requiting the wicked, to bring his
way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to
his righteousness. 24 If your people Israel be struck down before the
enemy, because they have sinned against you, and shall turn again and confess
your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house;
25 then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and
bring them again to the land which you gave to them and to their fathers.
26 When the sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned
against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn
from their sin, when you do afflict them: 27 then hear in heaven, and
forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach
them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land,
which you have given to your people for an inheritance. 28 If there be in
the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew,
locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their
cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there be; 29 whatever prayer
and supplication be made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall
know every man his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread forth his
hands toward this house: 30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling-place and
forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you
know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of the children of men;)
31 that they may fear you, to walk in your ways, so long as they live in
the land which you gave to our fathers. 32 Moreover concerning the
foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he shall come from a far
country for your great name's sake, and your mighty hand, and your
outstretched arm; when they shall come and pray toward this house: 33 then
hear from heaven, even from your dwelling-place, and do according to all that
the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know
your name, and fear you, as does your people Israel, and that they may know
that this house which I have built is called by your name. 34 If your
people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send
them, and they pray to you toward this city which you have chosen, and the
house which I have built for your name; 35 then hear from heaven their
prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. 36 If they sin
against you (for there is no man who doesn't sin), and you are angry with
them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to
a land far off or near; 37 yet if they shall repent themselves in the land
where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you
in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done
perversely, and have dealt wickedly; 38 if they return to you with all
their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where
they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to
their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which
I have built for your name: 39 then hear from heaven, even from your
dwelling-place, their prayer and their petitions, and maintain their cause,
and forgive your people who have sinned against you. 40 Now, my God, let,
I beg you, your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive, to the prayer
that is made in this place. 41 Now therefore arise, Yahweh God, into
your resting-place, you, and the ark of your strength: let your priests,
Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in
goodness. 42 Yahweh God, don't turn away the face of your anointed:
remember your loving kindnesses to David your servant.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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