1Then Solomon said, "Yahweh declared that he would live in thick darkness.
2But I have built you a magnificent house, a permanent home for you to live in."
3The king turned and blessed all the people of Israel, and all the people of Israel stood.
4He said, "Praise be to Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke directly to my father David and has now fulfilled it with his own hands.
5He said, 'Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen any city from all the tribes of Israel to build a house where my name would be. Nor did I choose any man to be ruler over my people Israel.
6But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.'
7My father David truly wanted to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
8But Yahweh said to my father David, 'It was good that you wanted to build a temple for my name.
9However, you will not build the temple. Instead, your own son, who will come from your body, will build the temple for my name.'
10"Yahweh has kept his promise. I have taken my father David's place and now sit on the throne of Israel, just as Yahweh promised. I have also built the temple for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
11Inside, I have placed the ark containing Yahweh's covenant, which he made with the people of Israel."
12Solomon stood before Yahweh's altar in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.
13(Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and placed it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it, then knelt down on his knees before the entire assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven.)
14And he said, "Yahweh, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth! You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.
15You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. Yes, you spoke with your mouth and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.
16"So now, Yahweh, God of Israel, keep the rest of your promise to your servant David, my father, when you said, 'You will never fail to have a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful to live according to my law, just as you have lived before me.'
17Now therefore, Yahweh, God of Israel, please let this word you spoke to your servant David come true.
18"But will God truly live with humans on earth? Look, heaven and the highest heavens cannot contain you; how much less this temple I have built!
19Yet, please consider your servant's prayer and plea, Yahweh my God. Listen to the cry and the prayer that your servant prays before you.
20May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night—toward the place where you said you would put your name. Listen to the prayer your servant will pray toward this place.
21Listen to the requests of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.
22"If someone sins against his neighbor, and an oath is required of him to swear it, and he comes and swears before your altar in this temple,
23then hear from heaven, take action, and judge your servants. Punish the wicked person, bringing what he deserves on his own head, and declare the righteous person innocent, rewarding him according to his righteousness.
24"If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn back and confess your name, and pray and plead with you in this temple,
25then hear from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their fathers.
26"When the sky is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin when you punish them,
27then listen in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right path to walk, and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.
28"If there is a famine in the land, if there is a plague, if there is blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; if their enemies surround and attack them in their cities; whatever disaster or sickness there is;
29whatever prayer and plea is made by any person, or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own suffering and sorrow, and spreads out his hands toward this temple,
30then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive. Give to each person according to all their ways, since you alone know the human heart—
31so that they may fear you and walk in your ways as long as they live in the land you gave to our fathers.
32"Also concerning the foreigner, who is not one of your people Israel, when he comes from a distant land because of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm; when they come and pray toward this temple;
33then hear from heaven, from your home, and do everything the foreigner asks of you. Do this so all the people on earth will know your name and respect you, just like your people Israel do. Then they will know that this house I built is dedicated to your name.
34“If your people go out to fight their enemies, no matter where you send them, and they pray to you, turning toward this city you have chosen and the house I built for your name;
35then hear their prayer and their cry for help from heaven, and uphold their cause.
36“If they sin against you (because everyone sins), and you are angry with them, and you hand them over to an enemy who takes them captive to a land far away or nearby;
37but then they come to their senses in the land where they are held captive, and they turn back to you and plead with you in their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and we have acted wickedly’;
38if they return to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity, where they were taken captive, and they pray toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and toward the house I have built for your name;
39then hear their prayer and their requests from heaven, from your home, uphold their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40“Now, my God, please let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
41“Now, Yahweh God, rise up and enter your resting place—you and the ark of your power. May your priests, Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation, and may your holy people rejoice in your goodness.
42“Yahweh God, do not reject your chosen one. Remember your faithful love for your servant David.”