1 Then Solomon said: “Yahweh has chosen to live in the thick cloud. Yes, I have built you a majestic temple,
2 a place for you to live in forever.”
3 Then the king turned and asked God’s blessing on the whole assembly of Israel, who were standing there.
4 He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has spoken through the mouth of David, my father and has now carried out by his hand what he said:
5 From the day I brought my people out of Egypt until now I did not choose any city in the land of Israel as the place to build a house where my Name would be, and I did not choose anyone to be prince of my people Israel.
6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place where my Name will be, and you, David, to rule my people.’
7 My father David had set his heart on building a house for the Name of Yahweh, the God of Israel,
8 but Yahweh said to him, ‘You have set your heart on building a temple for my name, and in this you have done well;
9 and yet, you are not the man to build the house; your son, born of your own body, shall build me a house.’
10 Yahweh has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and am seated on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised; and now I have built a house for the Name of Yahweh, the God of Israel,
11 and have placed in it the ark containing the covenant that Yahweh made with the people of Israel.”
Solomon’s prayer
12 Then in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh and stretched out his hands.
13 Solomon had made a bronze pedestal and had placed it in the middle of the court; it was 7 feet long, 7 feet wide and 7 feet high. Solomon mounted it, and knelt down on it in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel; he stretched out his hands to heaven.
14 and said, “Yahweh, God of Israel, not in heaven nor on earth is there such a God as you; you are true to your covenant and show graciousness toward your servants when they live in wholehearted obedience to you.
15 You have kept the promise you made to your servant David my father; what you promised with your mouth, today you have carried out by your hand.
16 And now, Yahweh, God of Israel, keep the promise you made your servant David when you said, ‘You shall always have someone from your line to rule as king of Israel, if only your sons are careful how they behave, following my Law as you yourself have done.’
17 So now, God of Israel, let the words come true which you spoke to your servant David my father.
18 Yet will God really live with men and women on the earth? Why, the heavens and their own heavens cannot contain you! How much less this house that I have built!
19 Listen to the prayer and grant the requests of your servant, Yahweh my God; listen to the cry and to the prayer your servant makes to you.
20 Day and night let your eyes watch over this house, where you have promised that your Name would be.
21 Hear the prayers of your servant and of Israel your people as they pray in this place. From heaven where your dwelling is, hear; and, as you hear, forgive.
22 If anyone sins against his neigh bor, and the neighbor calls down a curse on him and makes him swear an oath before your altar in this house,
23 hear from heaven, and act; decide between your servants: punish the wicked one, bringing his conduct down on his own head; and vindicate the innocent, rewarding him as his innocence deserves.
24 If Israel your people are defeated by the enemy because they have sinned against you, but they return to you and praise your name and humbly pray to you for forgiveness, in this house,
25 hear from heaven. Forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and to their ancestors.
26 When the heavens are shut and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray in this place and praise your name, having been humbled by you, and repent of their sin,
27 hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servant and of your people Israel. Teach them to do what is right; and send rain on your land which you have given your people as an inheritance.
28 Should there be famine in the land or epidemic or the crops are destroyed by scorching winds or swarms of locusts, should this people’s enemies lay siege to one of their cities, if there is any plague or sickness,
29 if any person, or all Israel your people, should, out of heartfelt sorrow, pray, stretching out his hands toward this house,
30 hear from heaven where your home is. Forgive, and deal with each as his conduct deserves, for you know each heart – you alone know the hearts of all humankind –
31 that they may come to you and follow your ways as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.
32 And the foreigner too, not belonging to your people Israel, if he comes from a distant country for the sake of your Name and of your mighty hand and outstretched arm, if he comes and prays in this house,
33 hear from heaven where your home is, and grant all the foreigner asks, so that all the peoples of the earth may come to know your name and, like your people Israel, revere you, and know that your Name dwells in this house I have built.
34 If your people go out to war against their enemies whatever way you send them, and if they turn toward the city you have chosen and toward the house I have built for your Name and pray to you,
35 hear from heaven their prayer and give them victory.
36 If they sin against you – for there is no one who does not sin – and you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they are led away captive to a land far or near,
37 if in the land of their exile they come to themselves and repent, and in the country of their captivity they pray to you saying, ‘We have sinned, we confess how sinful and wicked we have been,’
38 and if they turn again to you with all their heart and soul in the country of their captivity to which they have been deported, and pray, turning toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen, and toward the house I have built for your name,
39 hear from heaven where your home is. Hear their prayer, be merciful to them, and forgive your people the sins they have committed against you.
40 Now, O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
41 And now rise Yahweh God, come to your resting place, you and the ark of your power. Let your priests, Yahweh God, be blessed in all they do, and your faithful people rejoice in prosperity.
42 Yahweh God, do not reject the face of your anointed king and remember David your servant.”