1 Kings 8

The Ark Brought into the Temple

11ThenH227 SolomonH8010 assembledH6950 the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478 and allH3605 2the headsH7218 of the tribesH4294, the leadersH5387 of the fathers’H1 households of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, to KingH4428 SolomonH8010 in JerusalemH3389, 3to bringH5927 up the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LordH3068 from 4the cityH5892 of DavidH1732, whichH1931 is ZionH6726. 2AllH3605 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 assembledH6950 themselves to KingH4428 SolomonH8010 at 5the feastH2282, in the monthH3391 EthanimH388, whichH1931 is the seventhH7637 monthH2320. 3Then allH3605 the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478 cameH935, and 6the priestsH3548 tookH5375 up the arkH727. 4They broughtH5927 up the arkH727 of the LordH3068 and 7the tentH168 of meetingH4150 and allH3605 the holyH6944 utensilsH3627, whichH834 were in the tentH168, and the priestsH3548 and the LevitesH3881 broughtH5927 them up. 5And KingH4428 SolomonH8010 and allH3605 the congregationH5712 of IsraelH3478, who were assembledH3259 to him, 8were with him beforeH6440 the arkH727, sacrificingH2076 9soH7230 manyH7230 sheepH6629 and oxenH1241 they could not be countedH5608 or numberedH4487. 6Then 10the priestsH3548 broughtH935 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LordH3068 11to its placeH4725, into the innerH1687 sanctuaryH1687 of the houseH1004, to the mostH6944 holyH6944 placeH6944, 12underH8478 the wingsH3671 of the cherubimH3742. 7For the cherubimH3742 spreadH6566 their wingsH3671 overH413 the placeH4725 of the arkH727, and the cherubimH3742 madeH5526 a coveringH5526 overH5921 the arkH727 and its polesH905 from aboveH4480H4605. 8But 13the polesH905 were so longH748 that the endsH7218 of the polesH905 could be seenH7200 from the holyH6944 place beforeH5921H6440 the innerH1687 sanctuaryH1687, but they could not be seenH7200 outsideH2351; they are thereH8033 to thisH2088 dayH3117. 914ThereH369 was nothingH369 in the arkH727 exceptH7534 the twoH8147 tabletsH3871 of stoneH68 whichH834 MosesH4872 putH5117 thereH8033 at HorebH2722, whereH834 15the LordH3068 madeH3772 a covenant with the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, when they cameH3318 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714. 10It happenedH1961 that when the priestsH3548 cameH3318 from the holyH6944 place, 16the cloudH6051 filledH4390 the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, 11so that the priestsH3548 couldH3201 not standH5975 to ministerH8334 becauseH4480H6440 of the cloudH6051, for the gloryH3519 of the LordH3068 filledH4390 the houseH1004 of the LordH3068.

Solomon Addresses the People

1217ThenH227 SolomonH8010 saidH559, “The LordH3068 has saidH559 that 18He would dwellH7931 in the thickH6205 cloudH6205.1319I have surelyH1129 builtH1129 You a loftyH2073 houseH1004, 20A placeH4349 for Your dwellingH3427 foreverH5769.”

14Then the kingH4428 21facedH5437H6440 aboutH5437 and 22blessedH1288 allH3605 the assemblyH6951 of IsraelH3478, while allH3605 the assemblyH6951 of IsraelH3478 was standingH5975. 15He saidH559, “23BlessedH1288 be the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, 24whoH834 spokeH1696 with His mouthH6310 to my fatherH1 DavidH1732 and has fulfilledH4390 it with His handH3027, sayingH559, 16‘25SinceH4480 the dayH3117 that I broughtH3318 My peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 from EgyptH4714, I did not chooseH977 a cityH5892 out of allH3605 the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 in which to buildH1129 a houseH1004 that 26My nameH8034 might be thereH8033, but 27I choseH977 DavidH1732 to be overH5921 My peopleH5971 IsraelH3478.’ 1728Now it was 29in the heartH3824 of my fatherH1 DavidH1732 to buildH1129 a houseH1004 for the nameH8034 of the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. 18But the LordH3068 saidH559 to my fatherH1 DavidH1732, ‘BecauseH3282H834 it was 30in your heartH3824 to buildH1129 a houseH1004 for My nameH8034, you didH2895 wellH2895 that it was 31in your heartH3824. 1932NeverthelessH7534 you shall not buildH1129 the houseH1004, but your sonH1121 who 33will be bornH3318H2504 to you, he will buildH1129 the houseH1004 for My nameH8034.’ 20Now the LordH3068 has fulfilledH6965 His wordH1697 whichH834 He spokeH1696; for 34I have risenH6965 in placeH8478 of my fatherH1 DavidH1732 and sitH3427 on the throneH3678 of IsraelH3478, as the LordH3068 35promisedH1696, and have builtH1129 the houseH1004 for the nameH8034 of the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. 21ThereH8033 I have setH7760 a placeH4725 for the arkH727, 36in whichH834 is the covenantH1285 of the LordH3068, whichH834 He madeH3772 with our fathersH1 when He broughtH3318 them from the landH776 of EgyptH4714.”

The Prayer of Dedication

22Then 37SolomonH8010 stoodH5975 beforeH6440 the altarH4196 of the LordH3068 in the presenceH5048 of allH3605 the assemblyH6951 of IsraelH3478 and 38spreadH6566 out his handsH3709 toward heavenH8064. 23He saidH559, “O LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, 39thereH369 is noH369 GodH430 likeH3644 You in heavenH8064 aboveH4480H4605 or on earthH776 beneathH4480H8478, 40keepingH8104 covenantH1285 and showing lovingkindnessH2617 to Your servantsH5650 who walkH1980 beforeH6440 You with allH3605 their heartH3820, 24whoH834 have keptH8104 with Your servantH5650, my fatherH1 DavidH1732, that whichH834 You have 41promisedH1696 him; indeed, You have spokenH1696 with Your mouthH6310 and have fulfilledH4390 it with Your handH3027 as it is thisH2088 dayH3117. 25NowH6258 therefore, O LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, keepH8104 with Your servantH5650 DavidH1732 my fatherH1 that whichH834 You have 42promisedH1696 him, sayingH559, ‘4344You shall not lackH3772 a manH376 to sitH3427 on the throneH3678 of IsraelH3478, ifH518 onlyH7534 your sonsH1121 takeH8104 heedH8104 to their wayH1870 to walkH1980 beforeH6440 Me as you have walkedH1980.’ 26NowH6258 therefore, O GodH430 of IsraelH3478, let Your wordH1697, I prayH4994, be confirmedH539 45whichH834 You have spokenH1696 to Your servantH5650, my fatherH1 DavidH1732.

27“But will GodH430 indeedH552 dwellH3427 on the earthH776? BeholdH2009, 46heavenH8064 and the 47highestH8064 heavenH8064 cannotH3808 containH3557 You, howH637 muchH637H3588 lessH637 thisH2088 houseH1004 whichH834 I have builtH1129! 28Yet haveH6437 regardH6437 to the 48prayerH8605 of Your servantH5650 and to his supplicationH8467, O LordH3068 my GodH430, to listenH8085 to the cryH7440 and to the prayerH8605 whichH834 Your servantH5650 praysH6419 beforeH6440 You todayH3117; 2949that Your eyesH5869 may be openH6605 towardH413 thisH2088 houseH1004 nightH3915 and dayH3117, towardH413 50the placeH4725 of whichH834 You have saidH559, ‘My nameH8034 shall be thereH8033,’ to listenH8085 to the prayerH8605 whichH834 Your servantH5650 shall prayH6419 towardH413 thisH2088 placeH4725. 3051ListenH8085 to the supplicationH8467 of Your servantH5650 and of Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, 52whenH834 they prayH6419 towardH413 thisH2088 placeH4725; hearH8085 in heavenH8064 Your dwellingH3427 placeH4725; hearH8085 and 53forgiveH5545.

31“54IfH834 a manH376 sinsH2398 against his neighborH7453 and is madeH5377 to takeH422 an oathH423, and he comesH935 and takesH422 an oathH422 beforeH6440 Your altarH4196 in thisH2088 houseH1004, 32then hearH8085 in heavenH8064 and actH6213 and judgeH8199 Your servantsH5650, 55condemningH7561 the wickedH7563 by bringingH5414 his wayH1870 on his own headH7218 and justifyingH6663 the righteousH6662 by givingH5414 him according to his righteousnessH6666.

33“56When Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 are 57defeatedH5062 beforeH6440 an enemyH340, becauseH834 they have sinnedH2398 against You, 58if they turnH7725 to You againH7725 and confessH3034 Your nameH8034 and prayH6419 and makeH2603 supplicationH2603 to You in thisH2088 houseH1004, 34then hearH8085 in heavenH8064, and forgiveH5545 the sinH2403 of Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, and bringH7725 them backH7725 to the landH127 whichH834 You gaveH5414 to their fathersH1.

35“59When the heavensH8064 are shutH6113 up and there is noH3808 rainH4306, becauseH3588 they have sinnedH2398 against You, and they prayH6419 towardH413 thisH2088 placeH4725 and confessH3034 Your nameH8034 and turnH7725 from their sinH2403 whenH3588 You afflictH6031 them, 36then hearH8085 in heavenH8064 and forgiveH5545 the sinH2403 of Your servantsH5650 and of Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, 60indeedH3588, teachH3384 them the goodH2896 wayH1870 in whichH834 they should walkH1980. And 61sendH5414 rainH4306 on Your landH776, whichH834 You have givenH5414 Your peopleH5971 for an inheritanceH5159.

37“62IfH3588 there is famineH7458 in the landH776, ifH3588 there is pestilenceH1698, ifH3588 there is blightH7711 or mildewH3420, locustH697 or grasshopperH2625, ifH3588 their enemyH340 besiegesH6887 them in the landH776 of their 63citiesH8179, whateverH3605 plagueH5061, whateverH3605 sicknessH4245 there is, 38whateverH3605H834 prayerH8605 or supplicationH8467 is madeH1961 by anyH3605 manH120 or by allH3605 Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, 64eachH376 knowingH3045 the 65afflictionH5061 of his own heartH3824, and spreadingH6566 his 66handsH3709 towardH413 thisH2088 houseH1004; 39then hearH8085 in heavenH8064 Your dwellingH3427 placeH4349, and forgiveH5545 and actH6213 and renderH5414 to eachH376 according to allH3605 his waysH1870, 67whoseH834 heartH3824 You knowH3045, for 68You aloneH905 knowH3045 the heartsH3824 of allH3605 the sonsH1121 of menH120, 40that they may 69fearH3372 You allH3605 the daysH3117 that they liveH2416 70in the landH127 whichH834 You have givenH5414 to our fathersH1.

41“AlsoH1571 concerningH413 the foreignerH5237 whoH834 is not of Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, when he comesH935 from a farH7350 countryH776 for Your name’sH8034 sakeH4616 42(for they will hearH8085 of Your greatH1419 nameH8034 71and Your mightyH2389 handH3027, and of Your outstretchedH5186 armH2220); when he comesH935 and praysH6419 towardH413 thisH2088 houseH1004, 43hearH8085 in heavenH8064 Your dwellingH3427 placeH4349, and doH6213 according to allH3605 for whichH834 the foreignerH5237 callsH7121 to You, in orderH4616 72that allH3605 the peoplesH5971 of the earthH776 may knowH3045 Your nameH8034, to 73fearH3372 You, as do Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, and that they may knowH3045 that 74thisH2088 houseH1004 whichH834 I have builtH1129 is calledH7121 by Your nameH8034.

44“WhenH3588 Your peopleH5971 goH3318 out to battleH4421 againstH5921 75their enemyH340, by whateverH834 wayH1870 You shall sendH7971 them, and 76they prayH6419 to the LordH3068 77towardH1870 the cityH5892 whichH834 You have chosenH977 and the houseH1004 whichH834 I have builtH1129 for Your nameH8034, 45then hearH8085 in heavenH8064 their prayerH8605 and their supplicationH8467, and maintainH6213 their 78causeH4941.

46“WhenH3588 they sinH2398 against You (for 79thereH369 is noH369 manH120 whoH834 does not sinH2398) and You are angryH599 with them and deliverH5414 them to an enemyH340, so that 80they takeH7617 them away captiveH7628 81to the landH776 of the enemyH340, farH7350 off orH176 nearH7138; 4782if they 83takeH7725 thoughtH3820 in the landH776 whereH834H8033 they have been takenH7617 captiveH7628, and repentH7725 and makeH2603 supplicationH2603 to You in the landH776 of those who have takenH7617 them captiveH7628, sayingH559, ‘84We have sinnedH2398 and have committedH5753 iniquityH5753, we have actedH7561 wickedlyH7561’; 4885if they returnH7725 to You with allH3605 their heartH3824 and with allH3605 their soulH5315 in the landH776 of their enemiesH340 whoH834 have takenH7617 them captiveH7628, and 86prayH6419 to You towardH1870 their landH776 whichH834 You have givenH5414 to their fathersH1, the cityH5892 whichH834 You have chosenH977, and the houseH1004 whichH834 I have builtH1129 for Your nameH8034; 49then hearH8085 their prayerH8605 and their supplicationH8467 in heavenH8064 Your dwellingH3427 placeH4349, and maintainH6213 their 87causeH4941, 50and forgiveH5545 Your peopleH5971 whoH834 have sinnedH2398 against You and allH3605 their transgressionsH6588 whichH834 they have transgressedH6586 against You, and 88makeH5414 them objects of compassionH7356 beforeH6440 those who have takenH7617 them captiveH7628, that they may haveH7355 compassionH7355 on them 51(89for they are Your peopleH5971 and Your inheritanceH5159 whichH834 You have broughtH3318 forthH3318 from EgyptH4714, 90from the midstH8432 of the ironH1270 furnaceH3564), 5291that Your eyesH5869 may be openH6605 to the supplicationH8467 of Your servantH5650 and to the supplicationH8467 of Your peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, to listenH8085 to them wheneverH3605 they callH7121 to You. 53For You have separatedH914 them from allH3605 the peoplesH5971 of the earthH776 as Your inheritanceH5159, 92as You spokeH1696 throughH3027 MosesH4872 Your servantH5650, when You broughtH3318 our fathersH1 forthH3318 from EgyptH4714, O LordH136 93GodH3068.”

Solomon’s Benediction

5494When SolomonH8010 had finishedH3615 prayingH6419 thisH2088 entireH3605 prayerH8605 and supplicationH8467 to the LordH3068, 95he aroseH6965 from beforeH6440 the altarH4196 of the LordH3068, from kneelingH3766 on his kneesH1290 with his 96handsH3709 spreadH6566 toward heavenH8064. 55And he stoodH5975 and 97blessedH1288 allH3605 the assemblyH6951 of IsraelH3478 with a loudH1419 voiceH6963, sayingH559:

56“BlessedH1288 be the LordH3068, whoH834 has givenH5414 restH4496 to His peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, 98according to allH3605 that He 99promisedH1696; 100not oneH259 wordH1697 has 101failedH5307 of allH3605 His goodH2896 102promiseH1697, whichH834 He 103promisedH1696 throughH3027 MosesH4872 His servantH5650. 57May the LordH3068 our GodH430 be with us, as He was with our fathersH1; 104may He not leaveH5800 us or forsakeH5203 us, 58that 105He may inclineH5186 our heartsH3824 to Himself, to walkH1980 in allH3605 His waysH1870 and to keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687 and His statutesH2706 and His ordinancesH4941, whichH834 He commandedH6680 our fathersH1. 59And may theseH428 wordsH1697 of mine, with whichH834 I have madeH2603 supplicationH2603 beforeH6440 the LordH3068, be nearH7138 to the LordH3068 our GodH430 dayH3119 and nightH3915, that He may maintainH6213 the 106causeH4941 of His servantH5650 and the 107causeH4941 of His peopleH5971 IsraelH3478, 108as eachH3117 dayH3117 requiresH1697, 60soH4616 109that allH3605 the peoplesH5971 of the earthH776 may knowH3045 that 110the LordH3068 is GodH430; thereH369 is noH369 oneH369 elseH5750. 61111Let your heartH3824 therefore be 112whollyH8003 devotedH8003 to the LordH3068 our GodH430, to walkH1980 in His statutesH2706 and to keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687, as at thisH2088 dayH3117.”

Dedicatory Sacrifices

62113Now the kingH4428 and allH3605 IsraelH3478 with him 114offeredH2076 sacrificeH2077 beforeH6440 the LordH3068. 63SolomonH8010 offeredH2076 for the sacrificeH2077 of peaceH8002 offeringsH8002, whichH834 he offeredH2076 to the LordH3068, 22,000H6242H8147H505 oxenH1241 and 120,000H3967H6242H505 sheepH6629. 115So the kingH4428 and allH3605 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 dedicatedH2596 the houseH1004 of the LordH3068. 64On the sameH1931 dayH3117 the kingH4428 consecratedH6942 the middleH8432 of the courtH2691 that was beforeH6440 the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, becauseH3588 thereH8033 he 116offeredH6213 the burntH5930 offeringH5930 and the grain offeringH4503 and the fatH2459 of the peaceH8002 offeringsH8002; for 117the bronzeH5178 altarH4196 that was beforeH6440 the LordH3068 was tooH4480 smallH6996 to holdH3557 the burntH5930 offeringH5930 and the grain offeringH4503 and the fatH2459 of the peaceH8002 offeringsH8002.

65So 118SolomonH8010 observedH6213 the feastH2282 at that timeH6256, and allH3605 IsraelH3478 with him, a greatH1419 assemblyH6951 119from the entranceH935 of HamathH2574 120to the brookH5158 of EgyptH4714, beforeH6440 the LordH3068 our GodH430, for sevenH7651 daysH3117 and sevenH7651 more daysH3117, even fourteenH702H6240 daysH3117. 66On the eighthH8066 dayH3117 he sentH7971 the peopleH5971 awayH7971 and they blessedH1288 the kingH4428. Then they wentH1980 to their tentsH168 joyfulH8056 and gladH2896 of heartH3820 for allH3605 the goodnessH2899 that the LordH3068 had 121shownH6213 to DavidH1732 His servantH5650 and to IsraelH3478 His peopleH5971.