1 Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 2 I have built you a fabulous temple, a place for you to dwell in forever." 3 The king turned around, and blessed all the assembly of Israel, as the entire assembly of Israel stood there. 4 He said, "Praise be the LORD, the God of Israel, because he has fulfilled what he promised to my father David, saying, 5 'Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in, so that my name might be there, neither did I choose anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there, and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.' 7 It was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my name, you did well to have this intention in your heart. 9 Nevertheless you shall not build the temple; but your son who will be born to you, he will build the temple for my name.' 10 The LORD has kept his word that he promised; for I have succeeded my father David, and now sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised and I have built the temple for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 I have put the ark there, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the Israelites." 12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 He had made a bronze platform, 7 ½ feet long by 7 ½ feet wide, and 4 ½ feet high, and had set it in the middle of the court. He stood on it, and kneeled down before the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 Then he said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven, or on earth; who keeps the covenant and loyal love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart. 15 You have kept your promise with your servant my father David. Yes, you promised with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, just as it is this day. 16 Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, fulfill with your servant my father David what you have promised him, saying, 'You will not fail to have a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children are careful in their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.' 17 Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, let your promise be fulfilled that you swore to your servant David. 18 But will God really dwell with humans on the earth? Even highest heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 19 Yet listen favorably to the prayer of your servant, and to his plea for help, O LORD my God. Listen to the cry and prayer that your servant prays before you. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, even toward the place of which you have promised that you would put your name there. May you listen to the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. 21 Listen to the requests of your servant and your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive. 22 If someone sins against his neighbor, and is made to take an oath pronouncing a curse against himself, and he come and swears before your altar in this house, 23 then hear from heaven, and act, and judge your servants, repaying the guilty bringing what he has done back on his own head. But vindicate the righteous giving him what his righteousness deserves. 24 If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and will turn again and confess your name, pray and plead for help before you in this temple, 25 then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land you have given to them and to their forefathers. 26 When the heavens are shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin when you punish them, 27 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and your people Israel. Teach them the good way in which they should walk, and then send rain on your land you have given to your people for an inheritance. 28 If there is a famine in the land, of plague, blight, mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their gates, whatever plague or sickness occurs 29 whatever prayer and request is made by anyone, or by all your people Israel, who each acknowledge his individual plague and sorrow, and shall spread out his hands toward this temple; 30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive. Render to everyone according to all his ways, for you know each heart, for truly you alone know the human heart. 31 so that they may fear you by walking in your ways, as long as they live in the land you gave to our forefathers. 32 Concerning the foreigner, who is not part of your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for your great name's sake and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, 33 then hear from heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner asks you for; so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple I have built is called by your name. 34 If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatsoever way you send them, and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen, and the temple I have built for your name; 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and support their cause. 36 If they sin against you--for there is no one who does not sin--and you are angry with them, and deliver them over to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to a land far away or near; 37 yet if they come to their senses in the land where they are carried captive, and repent, and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have acted wickedly;' 38 if they return to you with all their heart and all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land you gave to their forefathers, and the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name, 39 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, their prayer and their pleas, and support their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you. 40 Now, O my God, please let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 41 Now arise, O LORD God, come to your resting place, and the ark of your strength; let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in your goodness. 42 O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember your loyal love to your servant David."