1 Kings 5

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, down to the border of Egypt; they paid Solomon tribute and were his vassals as long as he lived.	1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon: for he heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram had always been David's friend.
2 Solomon's supplies for each day were thirty kors of fine flour, sixty kors of meal,	2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:
3 ten fatted oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, and a hundred sheep, not counting harts, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl.	3 Thou knowest the will of David my father, and that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars that were round about him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.
4 He ruled over all the land west of the Euphrates, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and over all its kings, and he had peace on all his borders round about.	4 But now the Lord my God hath given me rest round about: and there is no adversary nor evil occurrence.
5 Thus Judah and Israel lived in security, every man under his vine or under his fig tree from Dan to Beer-sheba, as long as Solomon lived.	5 Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: my son, whom I will set upon the throne in thy piece, he shall build a house to my name.
6 Solomon had four thousand stalls for his twelve thousand chariot horses.	6 Give orders therefore that thy servants cut me down cedar trees out of Libanus, and let my servants be with thy servants: and I will give thee the hire of thy servants whatsoever thou wilt ask, for thou knowest how there is not among my people a man that has skill to hew wood like to the Sidonians.
7 These commissaries, one for each month, provided food for King Solomon and for all the guests at the royal table. They left nothing unprovided.	7 Now when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced exceedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath given to David a very wise son over this numerous people.
8 For the chariot horses and draft animals also, each brought his quota of barley and straw to the required place.	8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have heard all thou hast desired of me: and I will do all thy desire concerning cedar trees, and fir trees.
9 Moreover, God gave Solomon wisdom and exceptional understanding and knowledge, as vast as the sand on the seashore.	9 My servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea: and I will put them together in floats in the sea, and convey them to the place, which thou shalt signify to me; and will land them there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt allow me necessaries, to furnish food for my household.
10 Solomon surpassed all the Cedemites and all the Egyptians in wisdom.	10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees, and fir trees, according to all his desire.
11 He was wiser than all other men--than Ethan the Ezrahite, or Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the musicians--and his fame spread throughout the neighboring nations.	11 And Solomon allowed Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat, for provision for his house, and twenty measures of the purest oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram every year.
12 Solomon also uttered three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.	12 And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they two made a league together.
13 He discussed plants, from the cedar on Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall, and he spoke about beasts, birds, reptiles, and fishes.	13 And king Solomon chose workmen cut of all Israel, and the levy was of thirty thousand men.
14 Men came to hear Solomon's wisdom from all nations, sent by all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.	14 And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand every month by turns, so that two months they were at home: and Adoniram was over this levy.
15 When Hiram, king of Tyre, heard that Solomon had been anointed king in place of his father, he sent an embassy to him; for Hiram had always been David's friend.	15 And Solomon had seventy thousand to carry burdens, and eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountain:
16 Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:	16 Besides the overseers who were over every work, in number three thousand, and three hundred that ruled over the people, and them that did the work.
17 "You know that my father David, because of the enemies surrounding him on all sides, could not build a temple in honor of the LORD, his God, until such a time as the LORD should put these enemies under the soles of his feet.	17 And the king commanded, that they should bring great stones, costly stones, for the foundation of the temple, and should square them:
18 But now the LORD, my God, has given me peace on all sides. There is no enemy or threat of danger.	18 And the masons of Solomon, and the masons of Hiram hewed them: and the Giblians prepared timber and stones to build the house.
19 So I purpose to build a temple in honor of the LORD, my God, as the LORD predicted to my father David when he said: 'It is your son whom I will put upon your throne in your place who shall build the temple in my honor.'
20 Give orders, then, to have cedars from the Lebanon cut down for me. My servants shall accompany yours, since you know that there is no one among us who is skilled in cutting timber like the Sidonians, and I will pay you whatever you say for your servants' salary."
21 When he had heard the words of Solomon, Hiram was pleased and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given David a wise son to rule this numerous people."
22 Hiram then sent word to Solomon, "I agree to the proposal you sent me, and I will provide all the cedars and fir trees you wish.
23 My servants shall bring them down from the Lebanon to the sea, and I will arrange them into rafts in the sea and bring them wherever you say. There I will break up the rafts, and you shall take the lumber. You, for your part, shall furnish the provisions I desire for my household."
24 So Hiram continued to provide Solomon with all the cedars and fir trees he wished;
25 while Solomon every year gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheat to provide for his household, and twenty thousand measures of pure oil.
26 The LORD, moreover, gave Solomon wisdom as he promised him, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, since they were parties to a treaty.
27 King Solomon conscripted thirty thousand workmen from all Israel.
28 He sent them to the Lebanon each month in relays of ten thousand, so that they spent one month in the Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft.
29 Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountain,
30 in addition to three thousand three hundred overseers, answerable to Solomon's prefects for the work, directing the people engaged in the work.
31 By order of the king, fine, large blocks were quarried to give the temple a foundation of hewn stone.
32 Solomon's and Hiram's builders, along with the Gebalites, hewed them out, and prepared the wood and stones for building the temple.