2 Chronicles 6:12–21

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

6:12–40pp—1Ki 8:22–53 6:41–42pp—Ps 132:8–10

¹²Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. ¹³Now he had made a bronze platform,^h five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high,^a and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt downⁱ before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. ¹⁴He said:

“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you^j in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love^k with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. ¹⁵You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised^l and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

¹⁶“Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail^m to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law,ⁿ as you have done.’ ¹⁷And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

¹⁸“But will God really dwell^o on earth with humans? The heavens,^p even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! ¹⁹Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. ²⁰May your eyes^q be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name^r there. May you hear^s the prayer your servant prays toward this place. ²¹Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.^t