2 Chronicles 6:12–21

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

12 Then he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.

13 aNow Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, bknelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.

14 He said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, athere is no god like You in heaven or on earth, bkeeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;

15 awho has kept with Your servant David, my father, that which You have 1promised him; indeed You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.

16 “Now therefore, O Lord, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, that which You have 1promised him, saying, ‘2aYou shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’

17 “Now therefore, O Lord, the God of Israel, let Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David.

18 “But awill God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, bheaven and the 1highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built.

19 “Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You;

20 that Your aeye may be open toward this house day and night, toward bthe place of which You have said that You would put Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.

21 “Listen to the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place; hear from Your dwelling place, from heaven; ahear and forgive.