12 rThen Solomon spoke:

“The Lord said He would dwell sin the dark cloud.

13 tI have surely built You an exalted house,

uAnd a place for You to dwell in forever.”

Solomon’s Speech at Completion of the Work

14 Then the king turned around and vblessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 And he said: w“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who xspoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying, 16 ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that yMy name might be there; but I chose zDavid to be over My people Israel.’ 17 Now ait was in the heart of my father David to build a 4temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 18 bBut the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless cyou shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’ 20 So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have 5filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, das the Lord promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 21 And there I have made a place for the ark, in which is ethe covenant of the Lord which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

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.