1 Kings 8 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

The Ark Brought into the House of Yahweh

1 Then ^H227 Solomon ^H8010 assembled ^H6950 the elders ^H2205 of Israel ^H3478 and all ^H3605 the heads ^H7218 of the tribes ^H4294, the leaders ^H5387 of the fathers’ ^H1 households of the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478, to King ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 in Jerusalem ^H3389, to bring ^H5927 up ^H5927 the ark ^H727 of the covenant ^H1285 of Yahweh ^H3068 from the city ^H5892 of David ^H1732, which ^H1931 is Zion ^H6726.

2 And all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 assembled ^H6950 themselves to King ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 at the feast ^H2282, in the month ^H3391 Ethanim ^H388, which ^H1931 is the seventh ^H7637 month ^H2320. 3 Then all ^H3605 the elders ^H2205 of Israel ^H3478 came ^H935, and the priests ^H3548 carried ^H5375 the ark ^H727. 4 And they brought ^H5927 up ^H5927 the ark ^H727 of Yahweh ^H3068 and the tent ^H168 of meeting ^H4150 and all ^H3605 the holy ^H6944 utensils ^H3627, which ^H834 were in the tent ^H168, and the priests ^H3548 and the Levites ^H3881 brought ^H5927 them up ^H5927. 5 And King ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 and all ^H3605 the congregation ^H5712 of Israel ^H3478, who congregated ^H3259 to him being with him before ^H6440 the ark ^H727, were sacrificing ^H2076 [fn]so ^H7230 many ^H7230 sheep ^H6629 and oxen ^H1241 that they could not be counted ^H5608 or numbered ^H4487. 6 Then the priests ^H3548 brought ^H935 the ark ^H727 of the covenant ^H1285 of Yahweh ^H3068 to its place ^H4725, into the inner ^H1687 sanctuary ^H1687 of the house ^H1004, to the Holy ^H6944 of Holies ^H6944, under ^H8478 the wings ^H3671 of the cherubim ^H3742. 7 For the cherubim ^H3742 spread ^H6566 their wings ^H3671 over ^H413 the place ^H4725 of the ark ^H727, and the cherubim ^H3742 made ^H5526 a ^H5526 covering ^H5526 over ^H5921 the ark ^H727 and its poles ^H905 from above ^H4480 H4605. 8 But the poles ^H905 were so long ^H748 that the ends ^H7218 of the poles ^H905 could be seen ^H7200 from the holy ^H6944 place before ^H5921 H6440 the inner ^H1687 sanctuary ^H1687, but they could not be seen ^H7200 outside ^H2351; and they are there ^H8033 to this ^H2088 day ^H3117. 9 There ^H369 was ^H369 nothing ^H369 in the ark ^H727 except ^H7534 the two ^H8147 tablets ^H3871 of stone ^H68 which ^H834 Moses ^H4872 laid ^H5117 there ^H8033 at Horeb ^H2722, where ^H834 Yahweh ^H3068 cut ^H3772 a covenant with the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478, when they came ^H3318 out ^H3318 of the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714. 10 Now it happened ^H1961 that when the priests ^H3548 came ^H3318 out ^H3318 of the holy ^H6944 place, the cloud ^H6051 filled ^H4390 the house ^H1004 of Yahweh ^H3068, 11 so that the priests ^H3548 could ^H3201 not stand ^H5975 to minister ^H8334 because ^H4480 H6440 of the cloud ^H6051, for the glory ^H3519 of Yahweh ^H3068 filled ^H4390 the house ^H1004 of Yahweh ^H3068.

Solomon Blesses the People

12 Then ^H227 Solomon ^H8010 said ^H559,

“Yahweh ^H3068 has said ^H559 that He would dwell ^H7931 in the cloud of dense ^H6205 gloom ^H6205.

13 “I have surely ^H1129 built ^H1129 You a lofty ^H2073 house ^H1004,

A place ^H4349 for Your dwelling ^H3427 forever ^H5769.”

14 Then the king ^H4428 turned ^H5437 his face ^H6440 around ^H5437 and blessed ^H1288 all ^H3605 the assembly ^H6951 of Israel ^H3478, while all ^H3605 the assembly ^H6951 of Israel ^H3478 was standing ^H5975.

15 And he said ^H559, “Blessed ^H1288 be Yahweh ^H3068, the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478, who ^H834 spoke ^H1696 with His mouth ^H6310 to my father ^H1 David ^H1732 and has fulfilled ^H4390 it by His hand ^H3027, saying ^H559, 16 ‘Since ^H4480 the day ^H3117 that I brought ^H3318 My people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478 from Egypt ^H4714, I did not choose ^H977 a city ^H5892 out of all ^H3605 the tribes ^H7626 of Israel ^H3478 in which to build ^H1129 a house ^H1004 that My name ^H8034 might be there ^H8033, but I have chosen ^H977 David ^H1732 to be over ^H5921 My people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478.’ 17 And it was [fn]in the heart ^H3824 of my father ^H1 David ^H1732 to build ^H1129 a house ^H1004 for the name ^H8034 of Yahweh ^H3068, the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478. 18 But Yahweh ^H3068 said ^H559 to my father ^H1 David ^H1732, ‘Because ^H3282 H834 it was [fn]in your heart ^H3824 to build ^H1129 a house ^H1004 for My name ^H8034, you did ^H2895 well ^H2895 that it was [fn]in your heart ^H3824. 19 Nevertheless ^H7534 you shall not build ^H1129 the house ^H1004, but your son ^H1121 who will come ^H3318 forth ^H3318 from your loins ^H2504, he shall build ^H1129 the house ^H1004 for My name ^H8034.’ 20 And Yahweh ^H3068 has established ^H6965 His word ^H1697 which ^H834 He spoke ^H1696; and I have been established ^H6965 in ^H8478 place ^H8478 of ^H8478 my father ^H1 David ^H1732 and sit ^H3427 on the throne ^H3678 of Israel ^H3478, as Yahweh ^H3068 [fn]promised ^H1696, and have built ^H1129 the house ^H1004 for the name ^H8034 of Yahweh ^H3068, the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478. 21 And there ^H8033 I have set ^H7760 a place ^H4725 for the ark ^H727, in which ^H834 is the covenant ^H1285 of Yahweh ^H3068, which ^H834 He cut ^H3772 with our fathers ^H1 when He brought ^H3318 them from the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714.”

Solomon’s Prayer for Israel

22 Then Solomon ^H8010 stood ^H5975 before ^H6440 the altar ^H4196 of Yahweh ^H3068 before ^H5048 all ^H3605 the assembly ^H6951 of Israel ^H3478 and spread ^H6566 out ^H6566 his hands ^H3709 toward heaven ^H8064.

23 And he said ^H559, “O Yahweh ^H3068, the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478, there ^H369 is ^H369 no ^H369 god ^H430 like ^H3644 You in heaven ^H8064 above ^H4480 H4605 or upon earth ^H776 beneath ^H4480 H8478, keeping ^H8104 covenant ^H1285 and lovingkindness ^H2617 to Your slaves ^H5650 who walk ^H1980 before ^H6440 You with all ^H3605 their heart ^H3820, 24 who ^H834 have kept ^H8104 with Your [fn]servant ^H5650, my father ^H1 David ^H1732, that which ^H834 You have [fn]promised ^H1696 him; indeed, You have [fn]promised ^H1696 with Your mouth ^H6310 and have fulfilled ^H4390 it by Your hand ^H3027 as it is this ^H2088 day ^H3117. 25 So now ^H6258, O Yahweh ^H3068, the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478, keep ^H8104 with Your [fn]servant ^H5650 David ^H1732 my father ^H1 that which ^H834 You have [fn]promised ^H1696 him, saying ^H559, ‘You shall not have ^H3772 a man ^H376 cut ^H3772 off from before Me who is to sit ^H3427 on the throne ^H3678 of Israel ^H3478, if ^H518 only ^H7534 your sons ^H1121 keep ^H8104 their way ^H1870 to walk ^H1980 as you have walked ^H1980 before ^H6440 Me.’ 26 So now ^H6258, O God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478, let Your word ^H1697 truly ^H539 H4994 [fn]endure ^H539 which ^H834 You have spoken ^H1696 to Your [fn]servant ^H5650, my father ^H1 David ^H1732.

27 “But will God ^H430 truly ^H552 dwell ^H3427 on the earth ^H776? Behold ^H2009, heaven ^H8064 and the [fn]highest ^H8064 heaven ^H8064 cannot ^H3808 [fn]contain ^H3557 You; how ^H637 much ^H637 H3588 less ^H637 this ^H2088 house ^H1004 which ^H834 I have built ^H1129! 28 Yet have ^H6437 regard ^H6437 to the prayer ^H8605 of Your slave ^H5650 and to his supplication ^H8467, O Yahweh ^H3068 my God ^H430, to listen ^H8085 to the cry ^H7440 and to the prayer ^H8605 which ^H834 Your slave ^H5650 prays ^H6419 before ^H6440 You today ^H3117; 29 that Your eyes ^H5869 may be open ^H6605 toward ^H413 this ^H2088 house ^H1004 night ^H3915 and day ^H3117, toward ^H413 the place ^H4725 of which ^H834 You have said ^H559, ‘My name ^H8034 shall be there ^H8033,’ to listen ^H8085 to the prayer ^H8605 which ^H834 Your slave ^H5650 shall pray ^H6419 toward ^H413 this ^H2088 place ^H4725. 30 And listen ^H8085 to the supplication ^H8467 of Your slave ^H5650 and of Your people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478, when ^H834 they pray ^H6419 toward ^H413 this ^H2088 place ^H4725; listen ^H8085 in heaven ^H8064 Your dwelling ^H3427 place ^H4725; listen ^H8085 and forgive ^H5545.

31 “If ^H834 a man ^H376 sins ^H2398 against his neighbor ^H7453 and is made ^H5377 to take ^H422 an ^H422 oath ^H423, and he comes ^H935 and takes ^H422 an ^H422 oath ^H422 before ^H6440 Your altar ^H4196 in this ^H2088 house ^H1004, 32 then listen ^H8085 in heaven ^H8064 and act ^H6213 and judge ^H8199 Your slaves ^H5650, condemning ^H7561 the wicked ^H7563 by [fn]bringing ^H5414 his way ^H1870 on his own head ^H7218 and justifying ^H6663 the righteous ^H6662 by [fn]bringing ^H5414 him reward according to his righteousness ^H6666.

33 “When Your people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478 are [fn]defeated ^H5062 before ^H6440 an enemy ^H340, because ^H834 they have sinned ^H2398 against You, if they turn ^H7725 to You again ^H7725 and confess ^H3034 Your name ^H8034 and pray ^H6419 and make ^H2603 supplication ^H2603 to You in this ^H2088 house ^H1004, 34 then listen ^H8085 in heaven ^H8064, and forgive ^H5545 the sin ^H2403 of Your people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478, and bring ^H7725 them back ^H7725 to the land ^H127 which ^H834 You gave ^H5414 to their fathers ^H1.

35 “When the heavens ^H8064 are shut ^H6113 up ^H6113 and there is no ^H3808 rain ^H4306, because ^H3588 they have sinned ^H2398 against You, and they pray ^H6419 toward ^H413 this ^H2088 place ^H4725 and confess ^H3034 Your name ^H8034 and turn ^H7725 from their sin ^H2403 when ^H3588 You afflict ^H6031 them, 36 then listen ^H8085 in heaven ^H8064 and forgive ^H5545 the sin ^H2403 of Your slaves ^H5650 and of Your people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478; indeed ^H3588, teach ^H3384 them the good ^H2896 way ^H1870 in which ^H834 they should walk ^H1980. And give ^H5414 rain ^H4306 on Your land ^H776, which ^H834 You have given ^H5414 to Your people ^H5971 for an inheritance ^H5159.

37 “If ^H3588 there is famine ^H7458 in the land ^H776, if ^H3588 there is pestilence ^H1698, if ^H3588 there is scorching ^H7711 wind ^H7711 or mildew ^H3420, locust ^H697 or grasshopper ^H2625, if ^H3588 their enemy ^H340 besieges ^H6887 them in the land ^H776 of their [fn]cities ^H8179, whatever ^H3605 plague ^H5061, whatever ^H3605 sickness ^H4245 there is, 38 whatever ^H3605 H834 prayer ^H8605 or supplication ^H8467 is made ^H1961 by any ^H3605 man ^H120 or by all ^H3605 Your people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478, each of whom ^H376 knows ^H3045 the [fn]affliction ^H5061 of his own heart ^H3824, and spreads ^H6566 his [fn]hands ^H3709 toward ^H413 this ^H2088 house ^H1004; 39 then listen ^H8085 in heaven ^H8064 Your dwelling ^H3427 place ^H4349, and forgive ^H5545 and act ^H6213 and give ^H5414 to each ^H376 according to all ^H3605 his ways ^H1870, whose ^H834 heart ^H3824 You know ^H3045, for You alone ^H905 know ^H3045 the hearts ^H3824 of all ^H3605 the sons ^H1121 of men ^H120, 40 that they may [fn]fear ^H3372 You all ^H3605 the days ^H3117 that they live ^H2416 upon the face ^H3942 of the land ^H127 which ^H834 You have given ^H5414 to our fathers ^H1.

41 “Also ^H1571 concerning ^H413 the foreigner ^H5237 who ^H834 is not of Your people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478, if he comes ^H935 from a far ^H7350 country ^H776 for Your name’s ^H8034 sake ^H4616 42 (for they will hear ^H8085 of Your great ^H1419 name ^H8034 and Your strong ^H2389 hand ^H3027, and of Your outstretched ^H5186 arm ^H2220); so if he comes ^H935 and prays ^H6419 toward ^H413 this ^H2088 house ^H1004, 43 listen ^H8085 in heaven ^H8064 Your dwelling ^H3427 place ^H4349, and do ^H6213 according to all ^H3605 for which ^H834 the foreigner ^H5237 calls ^H7121 to You, in order ^H4616 that all ^H3605 the peoples ^H5971 of the earth ^H776 may know ^H3045 Your name ^H8034 to [fn]fear ^H3372 You, as do Your people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478, and to know ^H3045 that Your name ^H8034 is called ^H7121 upon this ^H2088 house ^H1004 which ^H834 I have built ^H1129.

44 “When ^H3588 Your people ^H5971 go ^H3318 out ^H3318 to battle ^H4421 against ^H5921 [fn]their enemy ^H340, by whatever ^H834 way ^H1870 You shall send ^H7971 them, and they pray ^H6419 to Yahweh ^H3068 [fn]toward ^H1870 the city ^H5892 which ^H834 You have chosen ^H977 and the house ^H1004 which ^H834 I have built ^H1129 for Your name ^H8034, 45 then listen ^H8085 in heaven ^H8064 to their prayer ^H8605 and their supplication ^H8467, and do ^H6213 justice ^H4941.

46 “When ^H3588 they sin ^H2398 against You (for there ^H369 is ^H369 no ^H369 man ^H120 who ^H834 does not sin ^H2398) and You are angry ^H599 with them and give ^H5414 them over to an enemy ^H340, so that [fn]they take ^H7617 them away ^H7617 captive ^H7617 to the land ^H776 of the enemy ^H340, far ^H7350 off ^H7350 or ^H176 near ^H7138; 47 and if they cause these things to return ^H7725 to their heart ^H3820 in the land ^H776 where ^H834 H8033 they have been taken ^H7617 captive ^H7617, and [fn]return ^H7725 and make ^H2603 supplication ^H2603 to You in the land ^H776 of those who have taken ^H7617 them captive ^H7617, saying ^H559, ‘We have sinned ^H2398 and have committed ^H5753 iniquity ^H5753, we have acted ^H7561 wickedly ^H7561’; 48 and if they return ^H7725 to You with all ^H3605 their heart ^H3824 and with all ^H3605 their soul ^H5315 in the land ^H776 of their enemies ^H340 who ^H834 have taken ^H7617 them captive ^H7617, and pray ^H6419 to You toward ^H1870 their land ^H776 which ^H834 You have given ^H5414 to their fathers ^H1, the city ^H5892 which ^H834 You have chosen ^H977, and the house ^H1004 which ^H834 I have built ^H1129 for Your name ^H8034; 49 then listen ^H8085 in heaven ^H8064 Your dwelling ^H3427 place ^H4349 to their prayer ^H8605 and their supplication ^H8467, and do ^H6213 justice ^H4941 for them, 50 and forgive ^H5545 Your people ^H5971 who ^H834 have sinned ^H2398 against You and all ^H3605 their transgressions ^H6588 which ^H834 they have transgressed ^H6586 against You, and give ^H5414 them over as objects of compassion ^H7356 before ^H6440 those who have taken ^H7617 them captive ^H7617, that they may have ^H7355 compassion ^H7355 on ^H7355 them 51 (for they are Your people ^H5971 and Your inheritance ^H5159 which ^H834 You have brought ^H3318 forth ^H3318 from Egypt ^H4714, from the midst ^H8432 of the iron ^H1270 furnace ^H3564), 52 that Your eyes ^H5869 may be open ^H6605 to the supplication ^H8467 of Your slave ^H5650 and to the supplication ^H8467 of Your people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478, to listen ^H8085 to them whenever ^H3605 they call ^H7121 to You. 53 For You have separated ^H914 them from all ^H3605 the peoples ^H5971 of the earth ^H776 as Your inheritance ^H5159, as You spoke ^H1696 by the hand ^H3027 of Moses ^H4872 Your [fn]servant ^H5650, when You brought ^H3318 our fathers ^H1 forth ^H3318 from Egypt ^H4714, O Lord ^H136 Yahweh ^H3068.”

Solomon Blesses Yahweh

54 Now it happened that when Solomon ^H8010 had [fn]finished ^H3615 praying ^H6419 this ^H2088 entire ^H3605 prayer ^H8605 and supplication ^H8467 to Yahweh ^H3068, he arose ^H6965 from before ^H6440 the altar ^H4196 of Yahweh ^H3068, from kneeling ^H3766 on his knees ^H1290 with his [fn]hands ^H3709 spread ^H6566 toward heaven ^H8064.

55 And he stood ^H5975 and blessed ^H1288 all ^H3605 the assembly ^H6951 of Israel ^H3478 with a loud ^H1419 voice ^H6963, saying ^H559:

56 “Blessed ^H1288 be Yahweh ^H3068, who ^H834 has given ^H5414 rest ^H4496 to His people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478, according to all ^H3605 that He [fn]promised ^H1696; not one ^H259 promise ^H1697 has [fn]failed ^H5307 of all ^H3605 His good ^H2896 [fn]promises ^H1697, which ^H834 He [fn]promised ^H1696 by the hand ^H3027 of Moses ^H4872 His [fn]servant ^H5650. 57 May Yahweh ^H3068 our God ^H430 be with us, as He was with our fathers ^H1; may He not forsake ^H5800 us or abandon ^H5203 us, 58 that He may incline ^H5186 our hearts ^H3824 to Himself, to walk ^H1980 in all ^H3605 His ways ^H1870 and to keep ^H8104 His commandments ^H4687 and His statutes ^H2706 and His judgments ^H4941, which ^H834 He commanded ^H6680 our fathers ^H1. 59 And may these ^H428 words ^H1697 of mine, with which ^H834 I have made ^H2603 supplication ^H2603 before ^H6440 Yahweh ^H3068, be near ^H7138 to Yahweh ^H3068 our God ^H430 day ^H3119 and night ^H3915, that He may do ^H6213 justice ^H4941 for His slave ^H5650 and justice ^H4941 for His people ^H5971 Israel ^H3478, [fn]as each ^H3117 day ^H3117 requires ^H1697, 60 so ^H4616 that all ^H3605 the peoples ^H5971 of the earth ^H776 may know ^H3045 that Yahweh ^H3068 is God ^H430; there ^H369 is ^H369 no ^H369 one ^H369 else ^H5750. 61 Let your heart ^H3824 therefore be [fn]wholly ^H8003 devoted ^H8003 to Yahweh ^H3068 our God ^H430, to walk ^H1980 in His statutes ^H2706 and to keep ^H8104 His commandments ^H4687, as at this ^H2088 day ^H3117.”

The Offering for the House of Yahweh

62 Now the king ^H4428 and all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478 with him were offering ^H2076 sacrifices ^H2077 before ^H6440 Yahweh ^H3068.

63 And Solomon ^H8010 offered ^H2076 for the sacrifice ^H2077 of peace ^H8002 offerings ^H8002, which ^H834 he offered ^H2076 to Yahweh ^H3068, 22,000 ^{H6242 H8147 H505} oxen ^H1241 and 120,000 ^{H3967 H6242 H505} sheep ^H6629. So the king ^H4428 and all ^H3605 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 dedicated ^H2596 the house ^H1004 of Yahweh ^H3068. 64 On the same ^H1931 day ^H3117 the king ^H4428 set ^H6942 apart ^H6942 as ^H6942 holy ^H6942 the middle ^H8432 of the court ^H2691 that was before ^H6440 the house ^H1004 of Yahweh ^H3068, because ^H3588 there ^H8033 he [fn]offered ^H6213 the burnt ^H5930 offering ^H5930 and the grain offering ^H4503 and the fat ^H2459 of the peace ^H8002 offerings ^H8002; for the bronze ^H5178 altar ^H4196 that was before ^H6440 Yahweh ^H3068 was too ^H4480 small ^H6996 to hold ^H3557 the burnt ^H5930 offering ^H5930 and the grain offering ^H4503 and the fat ^H2459 of the peace ^H8002 offerings ^H8002.

65 So Solomon ^H8010 celebrated ^H6213 the feast ^H2282 at that time ^H6256, and all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478 with him, a great ^H1419 assembly ^H6951 from [fn]Lebo-hamath ^H2574 to the brook ^H5158 of Egypt ^H4714, before ^H6440 Yahweh ^H3068 our God ^H430, for seven ^H7651 days ^H3117 and seven ^H7651 more days ^H3117, even fourteen ^H702 H6240 days ^H3117. 66 On the eighth ^H8066 day ^H3117 he sent ^H7971 the people ^H5971 away ^H7971 and they blessed ^H1288 the king ^H4428. Then they went ^H1980 to their tents ^H168 with gladness ^H8056 and goodness ^H2896 of heart ^H3820 because of all ^H3605 the goodness ^H2896 that Yahweh ^H3068 had shown ^H6213 to David ^H1732 His [fn]servant ^H5650 and to Israel ^H3478 His people ^H5971.