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1 Kings 8:22-66
New American Standard Bible

The Prayer of Dedication

22 Then (A)Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and he (B)spread out his hands toward heaven. 23 And he said, “Lord, God of Israel, (C)there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, (D)keeping the covenant and showing faithfulness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, 24 You who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You [a]promised him; You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 25 Now then, Lord, God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have [b]promised him, saying, ‘[c](E)You shall not be deprived of a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful about their way, to walk before Me as you have walked.’ 26 Now then, God of Israel, let Your words, please, be confirmed, (F)which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, (G)heaven and the [d]highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! 28 Nevertheless, turn Your attention to the (H)prayer of Your servant and to his plea, Lord, my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today, 29 (I)so that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward (J)the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant will pray toward this place. 30 And (K)listen to the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel, (L)when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and (M)forgive!

31 “(N)If a person sins against his neighbor and is compelled to take an oath of innocence, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, 32 then hear in heaven and act and judge Your servants, (O)condemning the wicked by [e]bringing his way on his own head, and acquitting the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

33 “(P)When Your people Israel are [f]defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, (Q)if they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and implore Your [g]favor in this house, 34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave their fathers.

35 “(R)When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and praise Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel; (S)indeed, teach them the good way in which they are to walk. And (T)provide rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

37 “(U)If there is a famine in the land, if there is a plague, if there is [h]blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy harasses them in the land of their [i]cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer or plea [j]is offered by any person or by all Your people Israel, [k]each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his [l]hands toward this house; 39 then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive and act, and give to each in accordance with all his ways, (V)whose heart You know—for (W)You alone know the hearts of all [m]mankind— 40 so that they will [n]fear You all the days that they live on the [o]land which You have given to our fathers.

41 “Also regarding the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country on account of Your name 42 (for they will hear of Your great name (X)and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and act in accordance with all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order (Y)that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to [p]fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that [q]this house which I have built is called by Your name.

44 “When Your people go out to battle against [r]their enemy, by whatever way You send them, and (Z)they pray to the Lord [s]toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their pleading, and maintain their cause.

46 “When they sin against You (for (AA)there is no person who does not sin) and You are angry with them and turn them over to an enemy, so that [t]they take them away captive (AB)to the land of the enemy, distant or near; 47 (AC)if they [u]take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and implore Your [v]favor in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, ‘(AD)We have sinned and done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; 48 (AE)if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and (AF)pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name; 49 then hear their prayer and their pleading in heaven, Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their wrongdoings which they have committed against You, and (AG)make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, so that they will have compassion on them 51 ((AH)for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought out of Egypt, (AI)from the midst of the iron furnace), 52 (AJ)so that Your eyes may be open to the pleading of Your servant and to the pleading of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. 53 For You have singled them out from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, (AK)just as You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord [w]God.”

Solomon’s Benediction

54 (AL)When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and plea to the Lord, (AM)he stood up from the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his [x]hands spread toward heaven. 55 And he stood and (AN)blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

56 “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel (AO)in accordance with everything that He [y]promised; (AP)not one word has [z]failed of all His good [aa]promise, which He [ab]promised through Moses His servant. 57 May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; (AQ)may He not leave us nor forsake us, 58 so that (AR)He may guide our hearts toward Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, with which I have implored the [ac]favor of the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, [ad]as each day requires, 60 so (AS)that all the peoples of the earth may know that (AT)the Lord is God; there is no one else. 61 (AU)Your hearts therefore shall be [ae]wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

Dedicatory Sacrifices

62 (AV)Then the king and all Israel with him (AW)offered sacrifice before the Lord. 63 And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand oxen and 120,000 sheep. (AX)So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. 64 On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the house of the Lord, because there he [af]offered the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the peace offerings; for (AY)the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the peace offerings.

65 So (AZ)Solomon held the [ag]feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly (BA)from the entrance of Hamath (BB)to the brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, for seven days and seven more days, that is, fourteen days. 66 On the eighth day he dismissed the people, and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and with happy hearts for all the goodness that the Lord had [ah]shown to David His servant, and to Israel His people.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:24 Lit spoken to
  2. 1 Kings 8:25 Lit spoken to
  3. 1 Kings 8:25 Lit There shall not be cut off to you a man from before Me
  4. 1 Kings 8:27 Lit heaven of heavens
  5. 1 Kings 8:32 Lit giving
  6. 1 Kings 8:33 Lit struck
  7. 1 Kings 8:33 Or compassion
  8. 1 Kings 8:37 Lit scorching
  9. 1 Kings 8:37 Lit gates
  10. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit takes place
  11. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit who know each
  12. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit palms
  13. 1 Kings 8:39 Lit the sons of mankind
  14. 1 Kings 8:40 Or revere
  15. 1 Kings 8:40 Lit face of the land
  16. 1 Kings 8:43 Or revere
  17. 1 Kings 8:43 Lit Your name is called upon this house which I have built
  18. 1 Kings 8:44 Lit his
  19. 1 Kings 8:44 Lit in the way of
  20. 1 Kings 8:46 Lit their captors take them captive
  21. 1 Kings 8:47 Lit return to their heart
  22. 1 Kings 8:47 Or compassion
  23. 1 Kings 8:53 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  24. 1 Kings 8:54 Lit palms
  25. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit spoke
  26. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit fallen
  27. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit word
  28. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit spoke
  29. 1 Kings 8:59 Or compassion
  30. 1 Kings 8:59 Lit the matter of a day in its day
  31. 1 Kings 8:61 Lit complete with
  32. 1 Kings 8:64 Lit made
  33. 1 Kings 8:65 I.e., of Booths
  34. 1 Kings 8:66 Lit done
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1 Kings 8:22-66
New International Version

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(A)

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands(B) toward heaven 23 and said:

“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like(C) you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love(D) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

25 “Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises(E) you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised(F) your servant David my father come true.

27 “But will God really dwell(G) on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven,(H) cannot contain(I) you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open(J) toward(K) this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name(L) shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray(M) toward this place. Hear(N) from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.(O)

31 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath(P) before your altar in this temple, 32 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.(Q)

33 “When your people Israel have been defeated(R) by an enemy because they have sinned(S) against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,(T) 34 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.

35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(U) because your people have sinned(V) against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach(W) them the right way(X) to live, and send rain(Y) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

37 “When famine(Z) or plague(AA) comes to the land, or blight(AB) or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers,(AC) or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands(AD) toward this temple— 39 then hear(AE) from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive(AF) and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know(AG) their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), 40 so that they will fear(AH) you all the time they live in the land(AI) you gave our ancestors.

41 “As for the foreigner(AJ) who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear(AK) of your great name and your mighty hand(AL) and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know(AM) your name and fear(AN) you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.(AO)

44 “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray(AP) to the Lord toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 45 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.(AQ)

46 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin(AR)—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive(AS) to their own lands, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead(AT) with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’;(AU) 48 and if they turn back(AV) to you with all their heart(AW) and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray(AX) to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple(AY) I have built for your Name;(AZ) 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy;(BA) 51 for they are your people and your inheritance,(BB) whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.(BC)

52 “May your eyes be open(BD) to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you.(BE) 53 For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance,(BF) just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”

54 When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. 55 He stood and blessed(BG) the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

56 “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest(BH) to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises(BI) he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake(BJ) us. 58 May he turn our hearts(BK) to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60 so that all the peoples(BL) of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other.(BM) 61 And may your hearts(BN) be fully committed(BO) to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

The Dedication of the Temple(BP)

62 Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices(BQ) before the Lord. 63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated(BR) the temple of the Lord.

64 On that same day the king consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings and the fat(BS) of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar(BT) that stood before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings.(BU)

65 So Solomon observed the festival(BV) at that time, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath(BW) to the Wadi of Egypt.(BX) They celebrated it before the Lord our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all. 66 On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good(BY) things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people Israel.

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