1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the chiefs of the fathers of the sons of Israel before King Solomon in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Promise Keeper} from the city of David {Ir David: Royal Stronghold}, which is Zion.
2 All the men of Israel gathered to King Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim {ethanim: ancient name for the seventh month}; it is the seventh month {hashevii: sacred number of completion}.
3 When all the elders {ziqnei: tribal leaders} of Israel arrived, the priests lifted and carried the ark {aron: sacred chest}.
4 They brought up the ark of the LORD {YHWH, Holy Presence}, along with the tent of meeting {ohel moed: appointed place} and every sacred vessel that was in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.
5 And King Solomon and all the assembly {adat: appointed gathering} of Israel who had gathered to him were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle in such abundance {me-rov: overwhelming quantity} that they could not be counted or numbered.
6 The priests carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Throne} and set it in its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house—the Most Holy Place—under the wings {kanfei: outstretched} of the cherubim.
7 For the cherubim {keruvim: angelic guardians} extended their wings over the place where the ark stood, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles {baddayo: staves for carrying} from above.
8 They made the poles long so that the ends of the poles could be seen from the Holy Place {kodesh: priestly area} in front of the inner sanctuary {dvir: holiest chamber}, but they could not be seen from outside; they remain there to this day.
9 Nothing was inside the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses placed there at Horeb, where the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Maker} made a covenant with the sons of Israel {bene Yisrael: national community} when they came out of the land of Egypt.
10 And it happened, when the priests {kohanim: temple ministers} came out from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD {YHWH, Glory Revealer}.
11 The priests could not remain standing to serve because of the cloud {heʿanan: visible sign of divine presence}, for the glory of the LORD {YHWH, Majestic Presence} had filled the house of the LORD.
12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD {YHWH, Manifest Presence} has declared that He would dwell in the thick darkness {baarafel: hidden cloud}.”
13 I have indeed built a house of exalted dwelling for You {YHWH, Indwelling Presence}, an established place {makhon: established site} for You to reside forever.
14 Then the king turned his face and blessed all the assembly {qahal: gathered people} of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel remained standing {ʿomed: upright posture}.
15 He said, “Blessed is the LORD {YHWH, Promise Fulfiller}, the God of Israel, who spoke by His mouth {peh: instrument of speech} to David my father and has brought it to completion by His hand, saying—”
16 From the day I {YHWH, Sovereign Redeemer} brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I did not choose any city from all the tribes of Israel to build a house {bayit: divine dwelling} for My name to be there; instead I chose David to be over My people Israel.
17 Now it was on the heart {levav: inner intention} of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisrael, National Protector}.
18 And the LORD {YHWH, Intent Approver} said to David my father, “Because it was in your heart {levav: inner purpose} to build a house for My name, you did well, because it was in your heart.”
19 Yet you shall not build the house; rather your son {ben: heir}, who comes forth from your loins, shall build it for My {YHWH, Reputation Upholder} name.
20 The LORD {YHWH, Promise Upholder} has carried out His word {davar: authoritative promise} that He spoke: I have risen in place of David my father and have sat on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD said; and I have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
21 There I have appointed a place for the ark, where the covenant of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Establishing} rests, which He made with our ancestors when He brought them out of the land of Egypt {mitsrayim: house of bondage}.
22 Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Hearer}, in front of all the assembly of Israel, and he spread out his hands toward the heavens {shamayim: dwelling place of God}.
23 And he said, “LORD God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisrael, Covenant-Keeper}, there is no God like You—neither in the heavens above nor on the earth beneath—who keeps the covenant {berit: binding promise} and loyal love to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart.”
24 You {YHWH, Promise Keeper}, who have kept for Your servant David {dawid: chosen king}, my father, what You spoke to him; You spoke with Your mouth, and with Your hand You have fulfilled it, as this day.
25 And now, LORD God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisrael, Covenant Nation God}, keep {shmor: faithfully guard} for Your servant David my father the promise You spoke to him: “You shall never be without a man before Me to sit on the throne of Israel, only if Your sons guard their way to walk before Me as You have walked before Me.”
26 Now, O God of Israel {Elohei Yisrael, Covenant Keeper}, please let Your word {davar: spoken promise} that You spoke to Your servant David my father be established.
27 For is it truly so that God {Elohim, Uncontainable King} will dwell upon the earth? Behold, the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain You; how much less this house {bayit: temple structure} which I have built.
28 Yet turn toward the prayer of Your servant and to his plea for mercy, O LORD {YHWH, Hearer of Prayers}, my God {Elohai, Personal God}, to hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant prays before You today.
29 May Your {YHWH, Prayer Receiver} eyes stay open toward this house night and day, toward the place where You said, “My Name shall be there,” so that You hear the prayer {tefillah: earnest petition} that Your servant prays toward this place.
30 And You {YHWH, Hearer of Prayers} hear the supplication {techinnat: humble earnest request} of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place; and hear from the place of Your dwelling in the heavens; and forgive.
31 If a man sins against his neighbor and an oath {alah: binding curse} is laid on him to make him swear, and he comes with the oath before Your {YHWH, Upholder of Vows} altar in this house,
32 And You {YHWH, Heavenly Court Judge} will hear in the heavens and act and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, putting his way {derek: deeds returned} on his head, and justifying the righteous, giving to him according to his righteousness.
33 When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You {YHWH, Merciful Judge}, and they turn back to You, confess Your name, pray, and plead {hitchannenu: earnest plea} to You in this house.
34 Then You {YHWH, Covenant Restorer} will hear in the heavens, forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and return them to the land that You gave to their fathers {avotam: ancestral line}.
35 When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you {YHWH, Disciplinary Judge}, and they pray toward this place {maqom: designated meeting site} and confess your name, and turn back from their sin because you afflict them.
36 Then You {YHWH, Prayer Hearer} will hear in the heavens and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel when You instruct them in the good way {derekh: path of life} in which they should walk; and You will give rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.
37 If famine comes upon the land, or pestilence {dever: devastating epidemic}, blight {shidafon: scorching wind-borne disease}, mildew, locusts, or consuming locusts; or if an enemy oppresses him in the land at his gates—any plague, any disease—
38 Whatever prayer or petition is offered by any individual among Your people Israel, each aware of the affliction of his heart {nega: Inner Distress}, and stretching out his hands {kappav: Ritual Gesture} toward this house.
39 Then You {Elohim, Omniscient Judge} hear from the heavens, the place of Your dwelling, forgive and act, and give to each person according to all his ways, since You know his heart {levav: moral core}; for You alone know the heart of all the children of mankind.
40 So that they may fear You {YHWH, Sovereign Sustainer} all the days that they live on the face of the land that You gave to our ancestors {avoteinu: ancestral lineage}.
41 Also concerning the foreigner {hanokhri: non-Israelite} who is not of your people Israel but who has come from a distant land for the sake of your name {shem: renown}.
42 For they will hear of Your {YHWH, Sovereign Deliverer} great name, and of Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm {zer’o‘akha: symbol of power}; and they will come and pray toward this house.
43 Hear {YHWH, Sovereign Hearer} in the heavens, the place of Your dwelling, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to You, so that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name {shmecha: revealed character} and fear You as Your people Israel do, and so they may know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.
44 When your people go out to battle {milchamah: armed conflict} against their enemy along the way you send them, and they pray to the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign of Armies} toward the city you have chosen and the house I have built for your name.
45 Then You {YHWH, Supreme Arbiter} will hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and You will administer their justice {mishpatam: rightful cause}.
46 When they sin{yechetau: faithless offense} against You {YHWH, Just Judge}, for there is no human who does not sin, and You become angry with them and give them over before an enemy, and their captors take them captive to the land of the enemy, whether far or near.
47 If they restore their hearts in the land where they were taken captive and return and make supplication to You {Elohim, Compassionate Sustainer} in the land of their captors, declaring, “We have sinned {chatanu: missed the mark}; we have acted perversely; we have committed iniquity.”
48 If they return to You {YHWH, Hearer of Repentance} with all their heart {levav: inner person} and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to You toward the land You gave to their fathers, the city You chose, and the house I built for Your name.
49 Then You {YHWH, Supreme Hearer} will hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause {mishpatam: legal right}.
50 And You {YHWH, Compassionate Judge} shall forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions {pesha: deliberate rebellion} by which they have transgressed against You; and give them mercy before their captors, so that their captors may have compassion on them.