1 Kings 8:22-35

22In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of the Lord’s altar. He stretched out his hands toward heaven

23and said, “Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep your promise  of mercy to your servants, who obey you wholeheartedly.

24You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant. With your mouth you promised it. With your hand you carried it out as it is today.

25“Now, Lord God of Israel, keep your promise to my father David, your servant. You said, ‘You will never fail to have an heir sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel if your descendants are faithful to me as you have been faithful to me.’

26“So now, God of Israel, may the promise you made to my father David, your servant, come true.

27“Does God really live on earth? If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you, then how can this temple that I have built?

28Nevertheless, my Lord God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy. Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you today.

29Night and day may your eyes be on this temple, the place about which you said, ‘My name will be there.’ Listen to me as I pray toward this place.

30Hear the plea for mercy that your people Israel and I pray toward this place. Hear us ⌞when we pray⌟ to heaven, the place where you live. Hear and forgive.

31“If anyone sins against another person and is required to take an oath and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,

32then hear ⌞that person⌟ in heaven, take action, and make a decision. Condemn the guilty person with the proper punishment, but declare the innocent person innocent.

33“An enemy may defeat your people Israel because they have sinned against you. But when your people turn to you, praise your name, pray, and plead with you in this temple,

34then hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land that you gave to their ancestors.

35“When the sky is shut and there’s no rain because they are sinning against you, and they pray toward this place, praise your name, and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer,