| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father's place. (Hiram had always been an ally of David.) | 1 King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he learned that Solomon had been anointed king to replace his father, because Hiram had been David's lifelong friend. |
| 2Solomon then sent this message to Hiram: | 2Solomon sent this message to Hiram: |
| 3"You know that my father David was unable to build a temple to honor the LORD his God, for he was busy fighting battles on all fronts while the LORD subdued his enemies. | 3"You know that my father David was unable to build a temple dedicated to the LORD his God because he was busy fighting wars all around him until the LORD defeated his enemies. |
| 4But now the LORD my God has made me secure on all fronts; there is no adversary or dangerous threat. | 4But now the LORD has given me rest all around, since I have neither foreign adversaries nor domestic crises. |
| 5So I have decided to build a temple to honor the LORD my God, as the LORD instructed my father David, 'Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, is the one who will build a temple to honor me.' | 5So now I'm planning to build a temple dedicated to the LORD my God, just as the LORD told my father when he said, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne to replace you, will build the Temple dedicated to me.' |
| 6So now order some cedars of Lebanon to be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants. I will pay your servants whatever you say is appropriate, for you know that we have no one among us who knows how to cut down trees like the Sidonians." | 6Now therefore please order that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, because you know there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians do." |
| 7When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was very happy. He said, "The LORD is worthy of praise today because he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation." | 7As soon as Hiram received the message from Solomon, he became so ecstatic that he exclaimed, "Blessed be the LORD today, who has given David a wise son to rule this great people!" Then he sent this message to Solomon: |
| 8Hiram then sent this message to Solomon: "I received the message you sent to me. I will give you all the cedars and evergreens you need. | 8"I have read the letter that you sent me. I'll do what you've asked about the cedar and cypress timber. |
| 9My servants will bring the timber down from Lebanon to the sea. I will send it by sea in raft-like bundles to the place you designate. There I will separate the logs and you can carry them away. In exchange you will supply the food I need for my royal court." | 9My servants will transport them from Lebanon to the sea, where we'll make them into rafts and float them by sea to the port that you tell me to send them. We'll have them prepared for transport there and then you can carry them from there. You can meet my needs by providing provisions for my household." |
| 10So Hiram supplied the cedars and evergreens Solomon needed, | 10That's how Hiram came to provide Solomon as much cedar and cypress timber as he needed. |
| 11and Solomon supplied Hiram annually with 20,000 cors of wheat as provision for his royal court, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil. | 11In return, Solomon paid Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of beaten oil. Solomon provided this amount every year during the construction. |
| 12So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and made a treaty. | 12The LORD continued giving Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised, and Hiram and Solomon entered into a peace treaty between themselves. |
| 13King Solomon conscripted work crews from throughout Israel, 30,000 men in all. | 13King Solomon conscripted laborers from throughout Israel. The work force numbered 30,000 men. |
| 14He sent them to Lebanon in shifts of 10,000 men per month. They worked in Lebanon for one month, and then spent two months at home. Adoniram was supervisor of the work crews. | 14He sent 10,000 men to Lebanon in shifts lasting one month. They worked one month in Lebanon for every two months they worked at home. Adoniram was placed in charge of the conscripted labor. |
| 15Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, | 15Solomon also employed 70,000 heavy-lift workers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country. |
| 16besides 3,300 officials who supervised the workers. | 16Solomon also employed 3,300 officials to supervise the work and to manage the people employed in the construction. |
| 17By royal order they supplied large valuable stones in order to build the temple's foundation with chiseled stone. | 17The king specified that large, expensive stones be quarried so the foundation of the Temple could be laid with cut stones. |
| 18Solomon's and Hiram's construction workers, along with men from Byblos, did the chiseling and prepared the wood and stones for the building of the temple. | 18As a result, Solomon's builders worked with Hiram's builders, accompanied by the Gebalites, to quarry the stone and to prepare the timber and other stone for the Temple's construction. |
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