2 Chronicles 6:1-21 ▼

1 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.

2 “I have built You a lofty house, And a place for Your dwelling forever.”

3 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.

4 He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and fulfilled it with His hands, saying,

5 ‘Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, so that My name might be there, nor did I choose a man to be the leader over My people Israel;

6 but I have chosen Jerusalem so that My name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

7 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

8 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

9 Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.’

10 Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

11 There I have placed the ark in which is the covenant of the LORD, which He made with the sons of Israel.”

12 Then he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.

13 For Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the courtyard; and he stood on it, knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.

14 He said, “LORD, God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping Your covenant and Your faithfulness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;

15 You who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You promised him; You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.

16 Now then, LORD, God of Israel, keep to Your servant David, my father, that which You promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay attention to their way, to walk in My Law as you have walked before Me.’

17 Now then, LORD, God of Israel, let Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David.

18 “But will God really dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built!

19 Nevertheless, turn Your attention to the prayer of Your servant and to his plea, LORD, my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You;

20 that Your eye will be open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which You have said that You would put Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.

21 Listen to the pleadings of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place; hear from Your dwelling place, from heaven; hear and forgive.