1 Kings 5

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Solomon was overlord of al the kingdoms from the River to the territory of the Philistines and theEgyptian border. They brought tribute and served him al his life long.	1 Hiram, the king of Tyre, also sent his servants to Solomon. For he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father. Now Hiram had been a friend to David the entire time.
2 The daily provisions for Solomon were: thirty measures of fine flour and sixty measures of meal,	2 Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:
3 ten fattened oxen, twenty free-grazing oxen, one hundred sheep, besides deer and gazelles, roebucksand fattened poultry.	3 “You know the will of my father David, and that he was not able to build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars that were imminent all around him, until the Lord set them under the steps of his feet.
4 For he was master of al Transeuphrates -- of all the kings of Transeuphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza --and he enjoyed peace on al his frontiers.	4 But now the Lord my God has given rest to me on all sides. And there is no adversary, nor occurrence of evil.
5 Judah and Israel lived in security, everyone under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba,throughout the lifetime of Solomon.	5 For this reason, I intend to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, just as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying: ‘Your son, whom I will set in your place, upon your throne, he himself shall build a house to my name.’
6 And Solomon had four thousand stal s of horses for his chariots and twelve thousand cavalrymen.	6 Therefore, order that your servants may cut down for me cedars from Lebanon. And let my servants be with your servants. Then I will give to you, for the wages of your servants, whatever you will ask. For you know that there is not a man among my people who knows how to cut wood as well as the Sidonians.”
7 These administrators provided the food for Solomon and for al those who were admitted by him to theroyal table, each for the period of a month; they ensured that nothing was wanting.	7 Therefore, when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and he said, “Blessed be the Lord God this day, who gave to David a very wise son over this numerous people!”
8 They also provided the barley and straw for the horses and draught animals, where required, eachaccording to the quota demanded of him.	8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: “I have heard the things that you would entrust to me. And I will do your whole will concerning the cedar trees and spruce trees.
9 God gave Solomon immense wisdom and understanding, and a heart as vast as the sand on the sea-shore.	9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. And I will arrange them together as rafts on the sea, as far as the place that you will indicate to me. And I will land them there, and you will take them. And you shall offer to me what is necessary to give food to my house.”
10 The wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of al the sons of the East and al the wisdom of Egypt.	10 And so, Hiram gave to Solomon cedar trees and spruce trees, in accord with his whole will.
11 He was wiser than anyone else, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, than the sons of Mahol, Heman, Calcoland Darda; his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.	11 Then Solomon offered to Hiram twenty thousand cor of wheat, as food for his house, and twenty cor of the purest oil. These things Solomon gave as a tribute to Hiram every year.
12 He composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.	12 And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he said to him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two struck a pact.
13 He could discourse on plants from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing on the wal ; and hecould discourse on animals and birds and reptiles and fish.	13 And king Solomon chose workers from all of Israel, and the conscription was of thirty thousand men.
14 Men from al nations came to hear Solomon's wisdom, and he received gifts from al the kings in theworld, who had heard of his wisdom.	14 And he sent them into Lebanon, ten thousand each month, in turns, so that for two months they were in their own houses. And Adoniram was over this type of conscription.
15 Hiram king of Tyre sent an embassy to Solomon, having learnt that he had been anointed king insuccession to his father and because Hiram had always been a friend of David.	15 And Solomon had seventy thousand of those who were carrying burdens, and eighty thousand of those who cut stones from the mountain,
16 And Solomon sent this message to Hiram,	16 aside from the commanders who were over each work, in number three thousand and three hundred, who gave orders to the people and to those who were doing the work.
17 'You are aware that my father David was unable to build a temple for the name of Yahweh his God, onaccount of the wars waged on him from every side, until Yahweh put his enemies under the soles of his feet.	17 And the king ordered them to bring great stones, precious stones, for the foundation of the temple, and to square them.
18 But now Yahweh my God has given me peace on every side: not one enemy, no calamities.	18 And these were shaped by the stoneworkers of Solomon and the stoneworkers of Hiram. And the men of Gebal also prepared the wood and the stones in order to build the house.
19 I propose, then, to build a temple for the name of Yahweh my God, in accordance with what Yahwehtold my father David, "Your son whom I shall place on your throne to succeed you wil be the man to build atemple for my name."
20 So now have cedars of Lebanon cut down for me; my servants wil work with your servants, and I shallpay for the hire of your servants at whatever rate you fix. As you know, we have no one as skil ed in felling treesas the Sidonians.'
21 When Hiram heard what Solomon had said, he was delighted. 'Now blessed be Yahweh,' he said, 'whohas given David a wise son to rule over this great people!'
22 And Hiram sent word to Solomon, 'I have received your message. For my part, I shall supply you withal you require in the way of cedar wood and juniper.
23 Your servants wil bring these down from Lebanon to the sea, and I shal have them towed by sea toany place you name; I shal discharge them there, and you wil take them over. For your part, you wil see to theprovisioning of my household as I desire.'
24 So Hiram provided Solomon with al the cedar wood and juniper he wanted
25 while Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kor of wheat to feed his household, and twenty thousandkor of pure oil. Solomon gave Hiram this every year.
26 Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom as he had promised him; good relations persisted between Solomonand Hiram, and the two of them concluded a treaty.
27 King Solomon raised a levy throughout Israel for forced labour: the levy numbered thirty thousand men.
28 He sent these to Lebanon in relays, ten thousand a month; they spent one month in Lebanon and twomonths at home. Adoram was in charge of the forced labour.
29 Solomon also had seventy thousand porters and eighty thousand quarrymen in the mountains,
30 as wel as the administrators, officials who supervised the work, three thousand three hundred of themin charge of the men employed in the work.
31 At the king's orders they quarried huge stones, special stones for the laying of the temple foundations,dressed stones.
32 Solomon's workmen and Hiram's workmen and the Giblites cut and assembled the wood and stone forthe building of the Temple.