¹²Then Solomon stood facing the Lord’s altar, and all the Israelites were standing behind him. He spread out his hands. ¹³He had made a bronze platform seven and one-half feet long, seven and one-half feet wide, and seven and one-half feet high, and he had placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard. Solomon stood on the platform. Then he kneeled in front of all the people of Israel gathered there, and he spread out his hands toward the sky. ¹⁴He said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your agreement of love with your servants who truly follow you. ¹⁵You have kept the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You spoke it with your own mouth and finished it with your hands today.

¹⁶“Now, Lord, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You said, ‘If your sons are careful to obey my teachings as you have obeyed, there will always be someone from your family ruling Israel.’ ¹⁷Now, Lord, God of Israel, please continue to keep that promise you made to your servant.

¹⁸“But, God, can you really live here on the earth with people? The sky and the highest place in heaven cannot contain you. Surely this house which I have built cannot contain you. ¹⁹But please listen to my prayer and my request, because I am your servant. Lord my God, hear this prayer your servant prays to you. ²⁰Day and night please watch over this Temple where you have said you would be worshiped. Hear the prayer I pray facing this Temple. ²¹Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people Israel when we pray facing this place. Hear from your home in heaven, and when you hear, forgive us.

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