1 Kings 8:18-32

¹⁸But the Lord told my father David, ‘You had the desire to build a Temple to honor me, and it was good that you really wanted to do this.

¹⁹But it won't be you who will build this Temple, but your son who is to be born to you—he will build the Temple to honor me.'

²⁰Now the Lord has kept his promise that he made. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised. I have built the Temple to honor the Lord, the God of Israel.

²¹I have provided a place there for the Ark, which contains the agreement of the Lord that he made with our forefathers when he led them out of the land of Egypt.”

²²Then Solomon stood in front of the altar of the Lord before the whole assembly of Israel and held out his hands toward heaven.

²³He said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep you agreement of trustworthy love with your servants, those who are totally committed to following you.

²⁴You have kept the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You yourself promised, and by your own power you have fulfilled it today.

²⁵So now, Lord, God of Israel, please also keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said: ‘You will never fail to have a descendant sit in my presence on the throne of Israel, as long as they make sure to follow me as you have done.’

²⁶Now, God of Israel, please keep the promise you made to our servant, my father David.

²⁷But will God really live here on earth? The heavens, even highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this Temple I have built!

²⁸Please hear the prayer of your servant and his request, Lord my God. Please hear the appeals and the prayers that your servant is presenting before you today.

²⁹May you watch over this Temple day and night, caring for the place where you said you would be honored. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place,

³⁰and may you hear the request of your servant and your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Please hear from heaven where you live. May you hear and forgive.

³¹When someone sins against another and is required to take an oath before your altar in this Temple,

³²listen from heaven—act and judge your servants. Pay back the guilty; vindicate and reward those who do right.