1 Kings 8

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Solomon then summoned the elders of Israel to Jerusalem to bring the ark of the covenant of Yahwehup from the City of David, that is, Zion.	1 Then all those greater by birth of Israel, with the leaders of the tribes and the rulers of the families of the sons of Israel, gathered together before king Solomon at Jerusalem, so that they might carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, from the city of David, that is, from Zion.
2 Al the men of Israel assembled round King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, at the time of the feast(that is, the seventh month).	2 And all of Israel assembled before king Solomon, on the solemn day in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
3 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark	3 And all the elders of Israel arrived, and the priests took up the ark.
4 and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred utensils which were in the Tent.	4 And they carried the ark of the Lord, and the tabernacle of the covenant, and all the vessels of the Sanctuary, which were in the tabernacle; and the priests and the Levites carried these.
5 King Solomon and al Israel, present with him before the ark, sacrificed countless, innumerable sheepand oxen.	5 Then king Solomon, and the entire multitude of Israel, who had assembled before him, advanced with him before the ark. And they immolated sheep and oxen, which could not be numbered or estimated.
6 The priests brought the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, in the Debir of the Temple, that is, inthe Holy of Holies, under the wings of the winged creatures	6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the oracle of the temple, in the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim.
7 for the winged creatures spread their wings over the place where the ark stood, forming a canopy overthe ark and its shafts.	7 For indeed, the cherubim extended their wings over the place of the ark, and they protected the ark and its bars from above.
8 These were so long, however, that the ends of the shafts could be seen from the Holy Place in front ofthe Debir, though they could not be seen from outside. They are stil there today.	8 And since the bars projected outward, their ends were visible from without, in the Sanctuary before the oracle; but they were not visible farther outward. And they have been in that place even to the present day.
9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses had placed in it at Horeb, thetablets of the covenant which Yahweh made with the Israelites when they came out of Egypt.	9 Now inside the ark, there was nothing other than the two tablets of stone, which Moses had placed in it at Horeb, when the Lord formed a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they departed from the land of Egypt.
10 Now when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud fil ed the Temple of Yahweh,	10 Then it happened that, when the priests had exited from the Sanctuary, a cloud filled the house of the Lord.
11 and because of the cloud the priests could not stay and perform their duties. For the glory of Yahwehfilled the Temple of Yahweh.	11 And the priests were unable to stand and minister, because of the cloud. For the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.
12 Then Solomon said: Yahweh has chosen to dwel in thick cloud.	12 Then Solomon said: “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a cloud.
13 I have built you a princely dwel ing, a residence for you for ever.	13 Building, I have built a house as your dwelling place, your most firm throne forever.”
14 The king then turned round and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while the whole assembly ofIsrael stood.	14 And the king turned his face, and he blessed the entire assembly of Israel. For the entire assembly of Israel was standing.
15 He said, 'Blessed be Yahweh, God of Israel, who has carried out by his hand what he promised withhis mouth to my father David, when he said,	15 And Solomon said: “Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to my father David, and who, with his own hands, has perfected it, saying:
16 "From the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt I chose no city, in any of the tribes of Israel, tohave a temple built where my name should be; but I did choose David to rule my people Israel."	16 ‘From the day when I led my people Israel away from Egypt, I did not choose any city out of all the tribes of Israel, so that a house would be built, and so that my name might be there. Instead, I chose David to be over my people Israel.’
17 My father David had set his heart on building a temple for the name of Yahweh, God of Israel,	17 And my father David wanted to build a house to the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
18 but Yahweh said to my father David, "You have set your heart on building a temple for my name, andin this you have done wel ;	18 But the Lord said to my father David: ‘Since you have planned in your heart to build a house to my name, you have done well by considering this plan in your mind.
19 and yet, you are not the man to build the temple; but your son, yet to be born to you, wil be the one tobuild the temple for my name."	19 Yet truly, you shall not build a house for me. Instead, your son, who shall go forth from your loins, he himself shall build a house to my name.’
20 Yahweh has kept the promise which he made: I have succeeded my father David and am seated onthe throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised; I have built the temple for the name of Yahweh, God of Israel,	20 The Lord has confirmed his word which he spoke. And so I stand in place of my father David, and I sit upon the throne of Israel, just as the Lord said. And I have built a house to the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
21 and in it I have made a place for the ark containing the covenant of Yahweh which he made with ourancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.'	21 And there I have appointed a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he struck with our fathers, when they went forth from the land of Egypt.”
22 Then, in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel, Solomon stood facing the altar of Yahweh and,stretching out his hands towards heaven,	22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord, in the sight of the assembly of Israel, and he extended his hands toward heaven.
23 said, 'Yahweh, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, as loyal tothe covenant and faithful in love to your servants as long as they walk wholeheartedly in your way.	23 And he said: “Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, nor on the earth below. You preserve covenant and mercy with your servants, who walk before you with all their heart.
24 You have kept the promise you made to your servant, my father David, as you promised him youwould. Today you have carried it out by your power.	24 You have fulfilled, for your servant David, my father, that which you said to him. With your mouth, you spoke; and with your hands, you completed; just this day proves.
25 And now, Yahweh, God of Israel, keep the promise which you made to your servant David when yousaid, "You wil never lack for a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your sons are carefulhow they behave, walking before me as you yourself have done."	25 Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, fulfill, for your servant David, my father, that which you spoke to him, saying, ‘There shall not be taken away from you a man before me, who may sit upon the throne of Israel, if only your sons will guard their way, so that they walk before me, just as you have walked in my sight.’
26 So now, God of Israel, let the words come true which you spoke to your servant, my father David.	26 And now, O Lord God of Israel, establish your words, which you spoke to your servant David, my father.
27 Yet wil God real y live with human beings on earth? Why, the heavens, the highest of the heavens,cannot contain you. How much less this temple built by me!	27 Is it, then, to be understood that truly God would dwell upon the earth? For if heaven, and the heavens of heavens, are not able to contain you, how much less this house, which I have built?
28 Even so, listen favourably to the prayer and entreaty of your servant, Yahweh my God; listen to the cryand to the prayer which your servant makes to you today:	28 Yet look with favor upon the prayer of your servant and upon his petitions, O Lord, my God. Listen to the hymn and the prayer, which your servant prays before you this day,
29 day and night may your eyes watch over this temple, over this place of which you have said, "My namewil be there." Listen to the prayer which your servant offers in this place.	29 so that your eyes may be open over this house, night and day, over the house about which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ so that you may heed the prayer that your servant is praying in this place to you.
30 'Listen to the entreaty of your servant and of your people Israel; whenever they pray in this place, listenfrom the place where you reside in heaven; and when you hear, forgive.	30 So may you heed the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel, whatever they will pray for in this place, and so may you heed them in your dwelling place in heaven. And when you heed, you will be gracious.
31 'If someone has wronged his neighbour and a curse is laid on him to make him swear an oath herebefore your altar in this Temple,	31 But if any man sins against his neighbor, and he has any kind of an oath by which he is bound, and he arrives because of the oath, before your altar in your house,
32 then listen from the place where you reside in heaven and do justice between your servants:condemning the guilty one by making him suffer for his conduct, and acquitting the upright by rewarding him ashis uprightness deserves.	32 you will hear in heaven, and you will act and judge your servants, condemning the impious, and repaying his own way upon his own head, but justifying the just, and rewarding him in accord with his justice.
33 'When your people Israel are defeated by the enemy because they have sinned against you, but thenreturn to you and acknowledge your name, and pray and seek your favours in this Temple,	33 And if your people Israel will have fled from their enemies, because they have sinned against you, and doing penance and confessing to your name, shall arrive and pray and petition you in this house,
34 then listen from the place where you reside in heaven; forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bringthem back to the country which you gave to their ancestors.	34 listen in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and lead them back to the land, which you gave to their fathers.
35 'When the heavens are shut and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray inthis place and praise your name and, having been humbled by you, desist from their sin,	35 And if the heavens have closed, so that there is no rain, because of their sins, and they, praying in this place, shall do penance to your name, and shall be converted from their sins, by occasion of their afflictions,
36 then listen from the place where you reside in heaven and forgive the sin of your servant and yourpeople Israel -- for you are constantly showing them the good way which they must fol ow -- and send rain onyour country, which you have given to your people as their heritage.	36 hear them from heaven, and forgive the sins of your servants and of your people Israel. And reveal to them the good way, along which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as a possession.
37 'Should there be famine in the country, or pestilence, wind-blast or mildew, locust or caterpil ar; shouldtheir enemy lay siege to one of their gates; should there be any plague or any disease:	37 Then, if famine rises over the land, or pestilence, or corrupt air, or blight, or locust, or mildew, or if their enemy afflicts them, besieging the gates, or any harm or infirmity,
38 whatever be the prayer or entreaty of any individual aware of a particular affliction: when that personstretches out the hands towards this Temple,	38 or whatever curse or divine intervention may happen to any man among your people Israel, if anyone understands, having been wounded in his heart, and if he will have extended his hands in this house,
39 then listen from heaven where you reside; forgive and, since you know what is in the heart, deal witheach as their conduct deserves -- for you alone know what is in every human heart-	39 you will hear in heaven, in your dwelling place, and you will forgive. And you will act so that you give to each one in accord with his own ways, just as you see in his heart, for you alone know the heart of all the sons of men.
40 so that they may reverence you throughout their lives in the country which you gave to our ancestors.	40 So may they fear you, all the days that they live upon the face of the land, which you have given to our fathers.
41 'Even the foreigner, not belonging to your people Israel but coming from a distant country, attracted byyour name-	41 Moreover, the foreigner too, who is not of your people Israel, when he will have arrived from a distant land because of your name, for they shall hear about your great name, and your strong hand,
42 for they too wil hear of your name, of your mighty hand and outstretched arm -- if a foreigner comesand prays in this Temple,	42 and your outstretched arm everywhere: so when he arrives and prays in this place,
43 listen from heaven where you reside, and grant al that the foreigner asks of you, so that al the peoplesof the earth may acknowledge your name and, like your people Israel, revere you and know that this Temple,which I have built, bears your name.	43 you will listen in heaven, in the firmament of your dwelling place. And you will do all the things, for which that foreigner will have called upon you. So may all the peoples of the earth learn to fear your name, just as your people Israel do. And so may they show that your name has been invoked over this house, which I have built.
44 'If your people go out to war against the enemy, on whatever missions you send them, and they pray toYahweh, turning towards the city which you have chosen and towards the Temple which I have built for yourname,	44 And if your people have gone out to war against their enemies, along whatever way you will send them, they shall pray to you in the direction of the city, which you have chosen, and toward the house, which I have built to your name.
45 then listen from heaven to their prayer and their entreaty, and uphold their cause.	45 And you will hear in heaven their prayers and their petitions. And you will accomplish judgment for them.
46 'When they sin against you -- for there is no one who does not sin -- and you are angry with them andabandon them to the enemy, and their captors carry them off to a hostile country, be it far away or near,	46 But if they sin against you, for there is no man who does not sin, and you, being angry, deliver them to their enemies, and they will have been led away as captives to the land of their enemies, whether far or near,
47 if they come to their senses in the country to which they have been taken as captives and repent andentreat you in the country of their captors, saying, "We have sinned, we have acted perversely and wickedly,"	47 and if they do penance in their heart, in the place of captivity, and having been converted, make supplication to you in their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned; we acted unjustly; we committed impiety,’
48 and turn back to you with al their heart and soul in the country of the enemies who have taken themcaptive, and pray to you, turning towards the country which you gave to their ancestors, towards the city whichyou have chosen and towards the Temple which I have built for your name,	48 and they return to you with all their heart and all their soul, in the land of their enemies, to which they have been led away as captives, and if they pray to you in the direction of their land, which you gave to their fathers, and of the city, which you have chosen, and of the temple, which I have built to your name:
49 listen to their prayer and their entreaty from the place where you reside in heaven, uphold their case,	49 you will hear in heaven, in the firmament of your throne, their prayers and their petitions. And you will accomplish their judgment.
50 forgive your people for having sinned against you and for al the crimes against you of which they havebeen guilty, and allow them to arouse the pity of their captors so that these may have pity on them:	50 And you will forgive your people, who have sinned against you, and all their iniquities, by which they have transgressed against you. And you will grant to them mercy in the sight of those who have made them captives, so that they may take pity on them.
51 for they are your people and your heritage whom you brought out of Egypt, that iron foundry!	51 For they are your people and your inheritance, whom you have led away from the land of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron.
52 'May your eyes be open to the entreaty of your servant and the entreaty of your people Israel, to listento them, whatever they ask of you.	52 So may your eyes be open to the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel. And so may you heed them in all the things about which they will call upon you.
53 For you it was who set them apart from al the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declaredthrough your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh.'	53 For you have separated them to yourself as an inheritance, from among all the peoples of the earth, just as you spoke by Moses, your servant, when you led our fathers away from Egypt, O Lord God.”
54 When Solomon had finished offering to Yahweh this whole prayer and entreaty, he rose from where hewas kneeling with hands stretched out towards heaven before the altar of Yahweh,	54 And it happened that, when Solomon had completed praying this entire prayer and supplication to the Lord, he rose up from the sight of the altar of the Lord. For he had fixed both knees upon the ground, and he had extended his hands toward heaven.
55 and stood upright. And in a loud voice he blessed the whole assembly of Israel.	55 Then he stood and blessed the entire assembly of Israel in a great voice, saying:
56 'Blessed be Yahweh,' he said, 'who has granted rest to his people Israel, keeping al his promises. Ofal the promises of good that he made through his servant Moses, not one has failed.	56 “Blessed is the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel, in accord with all that he said. Not even one word, out of all the good things that he spoke by his servant Moses, has fallen away.
57 May Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors; may he never desert us or cast us off.	57 May the Lord our God be with us, just as he was with our fathers, not abandoning us, and not rejecting us.
58 May he turn our hearts towards him so that we may fol ow al his ways and keep the commandmentsand laws and ordinances which he gave to our ancestors.	58 But may he incline our hearts to himself, so that we may walk in all his ways, and keep his commandments, and his ceremonies, and whatever judgments he commanded to our fathers.
59 May these words of mine, of my entreaty before Yahweh, be present with Yahweh our God day andnight, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of Israel his people, as each day requires,	59 And may these my words, by which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God, day and night, so that he may accomplish judgment for his servant and for his people Israel, throughout each day.
60 so that al the peoples of the earth may come to know that Yahweh is God indeed and that there is noother.	60 So may all the peoples of the earth know that the Lord himself is God, and there is no other beside him.
61 May your hearts be wholly with Yahweh our God, fol owing his laws and keeping his commandmentsas at this present day.'	61 Also, may our hearts be perfect with the Lord our God, so that we may walk in his decrees, and keep his commandments, as also on this day.”
62 The king and al Israel with him offered sacrifice before Yahweh.	62 Then the king, and all of Israel with him, immolated victims before the Lord.
63 Solomon offered a communion sacrifice of twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twentythousand sheep to Yahweh; and thus the king and all the Israelites dedicated the Temple of Yahweh.	63 And Solomon slew sacrifices of peace offerings, which he immolated to the Lord: twenty-two thousand oxen, and twenty thousand one hundred sheep. And the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the temple of the Lord.
64 On the same day the king consecrated the middle part of the court in front of the Temple of Yahweh;for that was where he presented the burnt offerings, oblations and fatty parts of the communion sacrifices, since the bronze altar which stood before Yahweh was too smal to hold the burnt offering, oblation and the fatty partsof the communion sacrifice.	64 On that day, the king sanctified the middle of the atrium, which was before the house of the Lord. For in that place, he offered holocaust, and sacrifice, and the fat of peace offerings. For the bronze altar, which was before the Lord, was too small and was not able to hold the holocaust, and the sacrifice, and the fat of the peace offerings.
65 And then Solomon and with him all Israel from the Pass of Hamath to the Torrent of Egypt -- a greatassembly -- celebrated the feast before Yahweh our God for seven days.	65 Then Solomon made, at that time, a celebratory festival, and all of Israel with him, a great multitude, from the entrance of Hamath to the river of Egypt, in the sight of the Lord our God, for seven days plus seven days, that is, fourteen days.
66 On the eighth day he dismissed the people, who bade farewel to the king and went home joyful andhappy of heart over al the goodness which Yahweh had shown to his servant and his people Israel.	66 And on the eighth day, he dismissed the people. And blessing the king, they set out for their tents, rejoicing and cheerful in heart over all the good things that the Lord had done for his servant David and for his people Israel.