Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

22 Then Solomon stood before fthe altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and gspread out his hands toward heaven; 23 and he said: “Lord God of Israel, hthere is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, iwho keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who jwalk before You with all their hearts. 24 You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 25 Therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, k‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.’ 26 lAnd now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.

27 “But mwill God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the nheaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! 28 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: 29 that Your eyes may be open toward this 6temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, o‘My name shall be pthere,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes qtoward this place. 30 rAnd may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.