1 Kings 8

The Ark Enters the Temple

(2 Chronicles 5:1–14)

1At that timeH227 SolomonH8010 assembledH6950 beforeH413 himH4428H8010 in JerusalemH3389 the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478—allH3605 the tribalH4294 headsH7218 and family leadersH5387H1 of the IsraelitesH1121H3478—to bring upH5927 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 from ZionH6726, the CityH5892 of DavidH1732. 2And allH3605 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 came togetherH6950 toH413 KingH4428 SolomonH8010 at the feastH2282H1931 in the seventhH7637 monthH2320,1 the monthH3391 of EthanimH388.2

3When allH3605 the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478 had arrivedH935, the priestsH3548 took upH5375 the arkH727, 4and they brought upH5927 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068 andH853 the TentH168 of MeetingH4150 withH853 allH3605 its sacredH6944 furnishingsH3627. So the priestsH3548 and LevitesH3881 carried them upH5927.

5There, beforeH6440 the arkH727, KingH4428 SolomonH8010 and the wholeH3605 congregationH5712 of IsraelH3478 who had assembledH3259 with himH5921H854 sacrificedH2076 so manyH7230 sheepH6629 and oxenH1241 thatH834 they could notH3808 be countedH5608H3808 or numberedH4487.

6Then the priestsH3548 broughtH935 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 toH413 its placeH4725 inH413 the inner sanctuaryH1687 of the templeH1004, the Most Holy PlaceH6944H413,3 beneathH8478 the wingsH3671 of the cherubimH3742. 7ForH3588 the cherubimH3742 spreadH6566 their wingsH3671 overH413 the placeH4725 of the arkH727 and overshadowedH5526H4605 the arkH727 andH5921 its polesH905.

8The polesH905 extended far enoughH748 that theirH905 endsH7218 were visibleH7200 fromH4480 the Holy PlaceH6944 inH5921 frontH6440 of the inner sanctuaryH1687, but notH3808 from outsideH2351 the Holy Place;4 and they areH1961 thereH8033 toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117.

9There was nothingH369 in the arkH727 exceptH7535 the twoH8147 stoneH68 tabletsH3871 thatH834 MosesH4872 had placedH5117 in itH8033 at HorebH2722,5 whereH834 the LORDH3068 had made a covenantH3772 withH5973 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 after they had come outH3318 of the landH776 of EgyptH4714.

10AndH1961 when the priestsH3548 came outH3318 ofH4480 the Holy PlaceH6944, the cloudH6051 filledH4390 the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 11so that the priestsH3548 couldH3201 notH3808 stand thereH5975 to ministerH8334 becauseH6440 of the cloudH6051. ForH3588 the gloryH3519 of the LORDH3068 filledH4390 the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068.

Solomon Blesses the LORD

(2 Chronicles 6:1–11)

12ThenH227 SolomonH8010 declaredH559:

14And as the wholeH3605 assemblyH6951 of IsraelH3478 stoodH5975 there, the kingH4428 turned aroundH5437H6440 and blessedH1288 them allH3605H6951H3478 15and saidH559:

“BlessedH1288 be the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, who has fulfilledH4390 with His own handH3027 what He spokeH1696 with His mouthH6310 toH854 my fatherH1 DavidH1732, sayingH559, 16‘SinceH4480 the dayH3117 I brought My peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 outH3318 of EgyptH4714, I have notH3808 chosenH977 a cityH5892 from anyH3605 tribeH7626 of IsraelH3478 in which to buildH1129 a houseH1004 so that My NameH8034 would beH1961 thereH8033. But I have chosenH977 DavidH1732 to beH1961 overH5921 My peopleH5971 IsraelH3478.’

17Now it wasH1961 inH5973 the heartH3824 of my fatherH1 DavidH1732 to buildH1129 a houseH1004 for the NameH8034 of the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. 18But the LORDH3068 saidH559 toH413 my fatherH1 DavidH1732, ‘SinceH3282 it wasH1961 inH5973 your heartH3824 to buildH1129 a houseH1004 for My NameH8034, you have done wellH2895H3588 to have thisH1961 inH5973 your heartH3824. 19NeverthelessH7535, youH859 are notH3808 the one to build itH1129H1004; butH3588H518 your sonH1121, your own offspringH3318H2504H1931, will buildH1129 the houseH1004 for My NameH8034.’

20Now the LORDH3068 has fulfilledH6965 the wordH1697 thatH834 He spokeH1696. I have succeededH6965H8478 my fatherH1 DavidH1732, and I sitH3427 onH5921 the throneH3678 of IsraelH3478, asH834 the LORDH3068 promisedH1696. I have builtH1129 the houseH1004 for the NameH8034 of the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. 21And there I have providedH7760H8033 a placeH4725 for the arkH727, which containsH834 the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 thatH834 He madeH3772 withH5973 our fathersH1 when He brought them outH3318 of the landH776 of EgyptH4714.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

(2 Chronicles 6:12–42)

22Then SolomonH8010 stoodH5975 beforeH6440 the altarH4196 of the LORDH3068 in front ofH5048 the wholeH3605 assemblyH6951 of IsraelH3478, spread outH6566 his handsH3709 toward heavenH8064, 23and saidH559:

“O LORDH3068, GodH430 of IsraelH3478, there is noH369 GodH430 like YouH3644 in heavenH8064 aboveH4605 or onH5921 earthH776 belowH8478, keepingH8104 Your covenantH1285 of loving devotionH2617 with Your servantsH5650 who walkH1980 before YouH6440 with allH3605 their heartsH3820. 24You have keptH8104 Your promiseH1696 to Your servantH5650, my fatherH1 DavidH1732. What You spokeH1696 with Your mouthH6310 You have fulfilledH4390 with Your handH3027 thisH2088 dayH3117.

25Therefore nowH6258, O LORDH3068, GodH430 of IsraelH3478, keepH8104 for Your servantH5650, my fatherH1 DavidH1732, whatH834 You promisedH1696 when You saidH559: ‘You will neverH3808 failH3772 to have a manH376 to sitH3427 before MeH6440 onH5921 the throneH3678 of IsraelH3478, ifH518 onlyH7535 your descendantsH1121 guardH8104 their wayH1870 to walkH1980 before MeH6440 asH834 you haveH1980H6440 done.’ 26And nowH6258, O GodH430 of IsraelH3478, pleaseH4994 confirmH539 whatH834 You promisedH1697H1696 to Your servantH5650, my fatherH1 DavidH1732.

27ButH3588 will GodH430 indeedH552 dwellH3427 uponH5921 the earthH776? The heavensH8064, even the highest heavensH8064, cannotH3808 contain YouH3557, much lessH637H3588 thisH2088 templeH1004 I have builtH1129. 28Yet regardH6437 the prayerH8605 andH413 pleaH8467 of Your servantH5650, O LORDH3068 my GodH430, so that You may hearH8085H413 the cryH7440H413 and the prayerH8605 thatH834 Your servantH5650 is prayingH6419 before YouH6440 todayH3117.

29May Your eyesH5869 beH1961 openH6605 towardH413 thisH2088 templeH1004 nightH3915 and dayH3117, towardH413 the placeH4725 of whichH834 You saidH559, ‘My NameH8034 shall beH1961 thereH8033,’ so that You may hearH8085 the prayerH8605 thatH834 Your servantH5650 praysH6419 towardH413 thisH2088 placeH4725. 30HearH8085H413 the pleaH8467 of Your servantH5650 and of Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 whenH834 they prayH6419 towardH413 thisH2088 placeH4725. May YouH859 hearH8085H413 fromH413 heavenH8064, Your dwellingH3427 placeH4725. May You hearH8085 and forgiveH5545.

31

WhenH834 a manH376 sinsH2398 against his neighborH7453 and is requiredH5378 to take an oathH423H422, and he comesH935 to take an oathH422 beforeH6440 Your altarH4196 in thisH2088 templeH1004, 32then may YouH859 hearH8085 from heavenH8064 and actH6213. May You judgeH8199 Your servantsH5650, condemningH7561 the wicked manH7563 by bringingH5414 down on his own headH7218 what he has doneH1870, and justifyingH6663 the righteous manH6662 by rewardingH5414 him according to his righteousnessH6666.

33When Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 are defeatedH5062 beforeH6440 an enemyH341 becauseH834 they have sinnedH2398 against You, and they returnH7725 to YouH413 and confessH3034 Your nameH8034, prayingH6419 and pleadingH2603 with YouH413 in thisH2088 templeH1004, 34then may YouH859 hearH8085 from heavenH8064 and forgiveH5545 the sinH2403 of Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478. May You restore themH7725 toH413 the landH127 You gaveH5414 to their fathersH1.

35When the skiesH8064 are shutH6113 and there isH1961 noH3808 rainH4306 becauseH3588 Your people have sinnedH2398 against You, and they prayH6419 towardH413 thisH2088 placeH4725 and confessH3034 Your nameH8034, and they turnH7725 from their sinsH2403 becauseH3588 You have afflicted themH6031, 36then may YouH859 hearH8085 from heavenH8064 and forgiveH5545 the sinH2403 of Your servantsH5650, Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, so thatH3588 You may teach themH3384 the goodH2896 wayH1870 in whichH834 they should walkH1980. May You sendH5414 rainH4306 onH5921 the landH776 thatH834 You gaveH5414 Your peopleH5971 as an inheritanceH5159.

37WhenH3588 famineH7458 or plagueH1698 comesH1961 upon the landH776, or blightH7711 or mildewH3420 or locustsH697 or grasshoppersH2625, or whenH3588 their enemyH341 besiegesH6887 them inH776 their citiesH8179, whateverH3605 plagueH5061 or sicknessH4245 may come, 38then may whateverH3605 prayerH8605 or petitionH8467 Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 makeH1961—eachH376 knowingH3045 his ownH3824 afflictionsH5061 and spreading outH6566 his handsH3709 towardH413 thisH2088 templeH1004— 39be heardH8085 by YouH859 from heavenH8064, Your dwellingH3427 placeH4349. And may You forgiveH5545 and actH6213, and repayH5414 each manH376 according to allH3605 his waysH1870, sinceH834 You knowH3045 his heartH3824—forH3588 YouH859 aloneH905 knowH3045 the heartsH3824 of allH3605 menH1121H120— 40so thatH4616 they may fear YouH3372 allH3605 the daysH3117 theyH1992 liveH2416 inH5921H6440 the landH127 thatH834 You gaveH5414 to our fathersH1.

41AndH1571 as forH413 the foreignerH5237 whoH834 is notH3808 of Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478H1931 but has comeH935 from a distantH7350 landH776 because ofH4616 Your nameH8034— 42forH3588 they will hearH8085 of Your greatH1419 nameH8034 and mightyH2389 handH3027 and outstretchedH5186 armH2220—when he comesH935 and praysH6419 towardH413 thisH2088 templeH1004, 43then may YouH859 hearH8085 from heavenH8064, Your dwellingH3427 placeH4349, and doH6213 according to allH3605 for whichH834 the foreignerH5237 callsH7121 to YouH413. ThenH4616 allH3605 the peoplesH5971 of the earthH776 will knowH3045 Your nameH8034 and fearH3372 YouH853, as do Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, and they will knowH3045 thatH3588 thisH2088 houseH1004 I have builtH1129 is calledH7121H5921 by Your NameH8034.

44WhenH3588 Your peopleH5971 goH3318 to warH4421 againstH5921 their enemiesH341, whereverH1870 You send themH7971, and when they prayH6419 toH413 the LORDH3068 in the directionH1870 of the cityH5892 You have chosenH977 and the houseH1004 I have builtH1129 for Your NameH8034, 45then may You hearH8085 from heavenH8064 their prayerH8605 andH853 their pleaH8467, and may You upholdH6213 their causeH4941.

46WhenH3588 they sinH2398 against You—forH3588 there is noH369 oneH120 whoH834 does notH3808 sinH2398—and You become angryH599 with them and deliver themH5414 toH6440 an enemyH341 who takes themH7617 as captivesH7617 toH413 his ownH341 landH776, whether farH7350 orH176 nearH7138, 47and when they comeH7725 toH413 their sensesH3820 in the landH776 to whichH834 they were takenH7617H8033, and they repentH7725 and pleadH2603 with YouH413 in the landH776 of their captorsH7617, sayingH559, ‘We have sinnedH2398 and done wrongH5753; we have acted wickedlyH7561,’ 48and when they returnH7725 to YouH413 with allH3605 their heartH3824 andH3605 soulH5315 in the landH776 of the enemiesH341 whoH834 took them captiveH7617, and when they prayH6419 to YouH413 in the directionH1870 of the landH776 thatH834 You gaveH5414 to their fathersH1, the cityH5892 You have chosenH977, and the houseH1004 I have builtH1129 for Your NameH8034, 49then may You hearH8085 from heavenH8064, Your dwellingH3427 placeH4349, their prayerH8605 and petitionH8467, and may You upholdH6213 their causeH4941. 50May You forgiveH5545 Your peopleH5971 whoH834 have sinnedH2398 against You and allH3605 the transgressionsH6588 they have committedH6586 against You, and may You grant themH5414 compassionH7356 in the eyesH6440 of their captorsH7617 to show them mercyH7355.

51ForH3588 theyH1992 are Your peopleH5971 and Your inheritanceH5159; You brought themH834 outH3318 of EgyptH4714, outH8432 of the furnaceH3564 for ironH1270. 52May Your eyesH5869 beH1961 openH6605 toH413 the pleasH8467 of Your servantH5650 andH413 of Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, and may You listenH8085 to themH413 wheneverH3605 they callH7121 to YouH413. 53ForH3588 YouH859, O LordH136 GODH3069, have set them apartH914 from allH3605 the peoplesH5971 of the earthH776 as Your inheritanceH5159, asH834 You spokeH1696 throughH3027 Your servantH5650 MosesH4872 when You broughtH3318 our fathersH1 out of EgyptH4714.”

Solomon’s Benediction

54Now whenH1961 SolomonH8010 had finishedH3615 prayingH6419 thisH2063 entireH3605 prayerH8605 and petitionH8467 toH413 the LORDH3068, he got upH6965 beforeH6440 the altarH4196 of the LORDH3068, where he had been kneelingH3766H5921H1290 with his handsH3709 spread outH6566 toward heavenH8064. 55And he stoodH5975 and blessedH1288 the wholeH3605 assemblyH6951 of IsraelH3478 in a loudH1419 voiceH6963, sayingH559:

56“BlessedH1288 be the LORDH3068, whoH834 has givenH5414 restH4496 to His peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 according to allH3605 thatH834 He promisedH1696. NotH3808 oneH259 wordH1697 has failedH5307 of allH3605 the goodH2896 promisesH1697 He madeH1696 throughH3027 His servantH5650 MosesH4872.

57May the LORDH3068 our GodH430 beH1961 with usH5973, asH834 He wasH1961 withH5973 our fathersH1. May He neverH408 leave usH5800 orH408 forsake usH5203. 58May He inclineH5186 our heartsH3824 to HimselfH413, to walkH1980 in allH3605 His waysH1870 and to keepH8104 the commandmentsH4687 and statutesH2706 and ordinancesH4941 He commandedH6680 our fathersH1.

59And mayH1961 theseH428 wordsH1697 with whichH834 I have made my petitionH2603 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 be nearH7138H413 to the LORDH3068 our GodH430 dayH3119 and nightH3915, so that He may upholdH6213 the causeH4941 of His servantH5650 and of His peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 as each dayH3117 requiresH1697, 60so thatH4616 allH3605 the peoplesH5971 of the earthH776 may knowH3045 thatH3588 the LORDH3068H1931 is GodH430. There is noH369 otherH5750!

61So let your heartH3824 beH1961 fully devotedH8003 toH5973 the LORDH3068 our GodH430, as it isH3117 this dayH2088, to walkH1980 in His statutesH2706 and to keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687.”

Sacrifices of Dedication

(2 Chronicles 7:4–10)

62Then the kingH4428 and allH3605 IsraelH3478 with himH5973 offeredH2076 sacrificesH2077 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068. 63And SolomonH8010 offered asH2076 peace offeringsH2077H8002 to the LORDH3068 22,000H6242H8147H505 oxenH1241 and 120,000H3967H6242H505 sheepH6629. So the kingH4428 and allH3605 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 dedicatedH2596 the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068.

64On that sameH1931 dayH3117 the kingH4428 consecratedH6942 the middleH8432 of the courtyardH2691 in frontH6440 of the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, andH3588 thereH8033 he offeredH6213 the burnt offeringsH5930, the grain offeringsH4503, and the fatH2459 of the peace offeringsH8002, sinceH3588 the bronzeH5178 altarH4196 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 was too smallH6996 to containH3557 all these offerings.

65So at thatH1931 timeH6256 SolomonH8010 and allH3605 IsraelH3478 with himH5973—a greatH1419 assembly of peopleH6951 from Lebo-hamathH935H2574 toH5704 the BrookH5158 of EgyptH4714—keptH6213 the feastH2282 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 our GodH430 for sevenH7651 daysH3117 and sevenH7651 more daysH3117—fourteenH702H6240 days in allH3117.

66On theH8066 fifteenth dayH31177 Solomon sent the peopleH5971 awayH7971. So they blessedH1288 the kingH4428 and wentH1980 homeH168, joyfulH8056 and gladH2896 in heartH3820 forH5921 allH3605 the good thingsH2896 thatH834 the LORDH3068 had doneH6213 for His servantH5650 DavidH1732 and for His peopleH5971 IsraelH3478.