2 Chronicles 6
6
Solomon's Address to the People
(1 Kgs 8.12–21)
1Then King Solomon prayed,
“LORD, you have chosen to live in clouds and darkness.
2Now I have built a majestic temple for you,
a place for you to live in for ever.”
3All the people of Israel were standing there. The king turned to face them and asked God's blessing on them. 4#2 Sam 7.1–13; 1 Chr 17.1–12He said, “Praise the LORD God of Israel! He has kept the promise he made to my father David when he said to him, 5‘From the time I brought my people out of Egypt until now, I did not choose any city in the land of Israel as the place to build a temple where I would be worshipped, and I did not choose anyone to lead my people Israel. 6But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place where I will be worshipped, and you, David, to rule my people.’ ”
7And Solomon continued, “My father David planned to build a temple for the worship of the LORD God of Israel, 8but the LORD said to him, ‘You were right in wanting to build a temple for me, 9but you will never build it. It is your son, your own son, who will build my temple.’
10“Now the LORD has kept his promise: I have succeeded my father as king of Israel, and I have built a temple for the worship of the LORD God of Israel. 11I have placed in the Temple the Covenant Box, which contains the stone tablets of the covenant which the LORD made with the people of Israel.”
Solomon's Prayer
(1 Kgs 8.22–53)
12Then in the presence of the people Solomon went and stood in front of the altar and raised his arms in prayer. 13(Solomon had made a bronze platform and put it in the middle of the courtyard. It was 2.2 metres square and 1.3 metres high. He mounted this platform, knelt down where everyone could see him, and raised his hands towards heaven.) 14He prayed, “LORD God of Israel, in all heaven and earth there is no god like you. You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you. 15You have kept the promise you made to my father David; today every word has been fulfilled. 16#1 Kgs 2.4Now, LORD God of Israel, keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him that there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided that they carefully obeyed your Law just as he did. 17So now, LORD God of Israel, let everything come true that you promised to your servant David.
18 #
2 Chr 2.6
“But can you, O God, really live on earth among men and women? Not even all heaven is large enough to hold you, so how can this Temple that I have built be large enough? 19LORD my God, I am your servant. Listen to my prayer and grant the requests I make to you. 20#Deut 12.11Watch over this Temple day and night. You have promised that this is where you will be worshipped, so hear me when I face this Temple and pray. 21Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people Israel when they face this place and pray. In your home in heaven hear us and forgive us.
22“When a person is accused of wronging another and is brought to your altar in this Temple to take an oath that he is innocent, 23O LORD, listen in heaven and judge your servants. Punish the guilty one as he deserves and acquit the one who is innocent.
24“When your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you and then when they turn to you and come to this Temple, humbly praying to you for forgiveness, 25listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your people and bring them back to the land which you gave to them and to their ancestors.
26“When you hold back the rain because your people have sinned against you and then when they repent and face this Temple, humbly praying to you, 27O LORD, listen to them in heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, the people of Israel, and teach them to do what is right. Then, O LORD, send rain on this land of yours, which you gave to your people as a permanent possession.
28“When there is famine in the land or an epidemic or the crops are destroyed by scorching winds or swarms of locusts, or when your people are attacked by their enemies, or when there is disease or sickness among them, 29listen to their prayers. If any of your people Israel, out of heartfelt sorrow, stretch out their hands in prayer towards this Temple, 30hear their prayer. Listen to them in your home in heaven and forgive them. You alone know the thoughts of the human heart. Deal with each person as he deserves, 31so that your people may honour you and obey you all the time they live in the land which you gave to our ancestors.
32“When foreigners who live in a distant land hear how great and powerful you are and how you are always ready to act, and then they come to pray at this Temple, 33listen to their prayers. In heaven, where you live, hear them and do what they ask you to do, so that all the peoples of the world may know you and obey you, as your people Israel do. Then they will know that this Temple I have built is where you are to be worshipped.
34“When you command your people to go into battle against their enemies and they pray to you, wherever they are, facing this city which you have chosen and this Temple which I have built for you, 35listen to their prayers. Hear them in heaven and give them victory.
36“When your people sin against you — and there is no one who does not sin — and in your anger you let their enemies defeat them and take them as prisoners to some other land, even if that land is far away, 37listen to your people's prayers. If there in that land they repent and pray to you, confessing how sinful and wicked they have been, hear their prayers, O LORD. 38If in that land they truly and sincerely repent and pray to you as they face towards this land which you gave to our ancestors, this city which you have chosen, and this Temple which I have built for you, 39then listen to their prayers. In your home in heaven hear them and be merciful to them and forgive all the sins of your people.
40“Now, O my God, look on us and listen to the prayers offered in this place. 41#Ps 132.8–10Rise up now, LORD God, and with the Covenant Box, the symbol of your power, enter the Temple and stay here for ever. Bless your priests in all they do, and may all your people be happy because of your goodness to them. 42LORD God, do not reject the king you have chosen. Remember the love you had for your servant David.”#6.42 the love you… David; or your servant David's loyal service.
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2 Chronicles 6: GNBDC
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
2 Chronicles 6
6
Solomon Speaks to the People
1Then Solomon said, “The Lord said he would live in the dark cloud. 2Lord, I have built a wonderful Temple for you—a place for you to live forever.”
3While all the Israelites were standing there, King Solomon turned to them and blessed them. 4Then he said, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He has done what he promised to my father David. The Lord said, 5‘Since the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel where a temple will be built for me. I did not choose a man to lead my people Israel. 6But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place I am to be worshiped, and I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’
7“My father David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. 8But the Lord said to my father David, ‘It was good that you wanted to build a temple for me. 9But you are not the one to build it. Your son, who comes from your own body, is the one who will build my temple.’
10“Now the Lord has kept his promise. I am the king now in place of David my father. Now I rule Israel as the Lord promised, and I have built the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. 11There I have put the Ark, in which is the Agreement the Lord made with the Israelites.”
Solomon’s Prayer
12Then Solomon stood facing the Lord’s altar, and all the Israelites were standing behind him. He spread out his hands. 13He had made a bronze platform seven and one-half feet long, seven and one-half feet wide, and seven and one-half feet high, and he had placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard. Solomon stood on the platform. Then he kneeled in front of all the people of Israel gathered there, and he spread out his hands toward the sky. 14He said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your agreement of love with your servants who truly follow you. 15You have kept the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You spoke it with your own mouth and finished it with your hands today.
16“Now, Lord, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You said, ‘If your sons are careful to obey my teachings as you have obeyed, there will always be someone from your family ruling Israel.’ 17Now, Lord, God of Israel, please continue to keep that promise you made to your servant.
18“But, God, can you really live here on the earth with people? The sky and the highest place in heaven cannot contain you. Surely this house which I have built cannot contain you. 19But please listen to my prayer and my request, because I am your servant. Lord my God, hear this prayer your servant prays to you. 20Day and night please watch over this Temple where you have said you would be worshiped. Hear the prayer I pray facing this Temple. 21Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people Israel when we pray facing this place. Hear from your home in heaven, and when you hear, forgive us.
22“If someone wrongs another person, he will be brought to the altar in this Temple. If he swears an oath that he is not guilty, 23then hear in heaven. Judge the case, punish the guilty, but declare that the innocent person is not guilty.
24“When your people, the Israelites, sin against you, their enemies will defeat them. But if they come back to you and praise you and pray to you in this Temple, 25then listen from heaven. Forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.
26“When they sin against you, you will stop the rain from falling on their land. Then they will pray, facing this place and praising you; they will stop sinning when you make them suffer. 27When this happens, hear their prayer in heaven, and forgive the sins of your servants, the Israelites. Teach them to do what is right. Then please send rain to this land you have given particularly to them.
28“At times the land will get so dry that no food will grow, or a great sickness will spread among the people. Sometimes the crops will be destroyed by locusts or grasshoppers. Your people will be attacked in their cities by their enemies, or will become sick. 29When any of these things happens, the people will become truly sorry. If your people spread their hands in prayer toward this Temple, 30then hear their prayers from your home in heaven. Forgive and treat each person as he should be treated because you know what is in a person’s heart. Only you know what is in people’s hearts. 31Then the people will respect and obey you as long as they live in this land you gave our ancestors.
32“People who are not Israelites, foreigners from other lands, will hear about your greatness and power. They will come from far away to pray at this Temple. 33Then hear from your home in heaven, and do whatever they ask you. Then people everywhere will know you and respect you, just as your people Israel do. Then everyone will know that I built this Temple as a place to worship you.
34“When your people go out to fight their enemies along some road on which you send them, your people will pray to you, facing this city which you have chosen and the Temple I have built for you. 35Then hear in heaven their prayers, and do what is right.
36“Everyone sins, so your people will also sin against you. You will become angry with them and will hand them over to their enemies. Their enemies will capture them and take them away to a country far or near. 37Your people will be sorry for their sins when they are held as prisoners in another country. They will be sorry and pray to you in the land where they are held as prisoners, saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done wrong and acted wickedly.’ 38They will truly turn back to you in the land where they are captives. They will pray, facing this land you gave their ancestors, this city you have chosen, and the Temple I have built for you. 39Then hear their prayers from your home in heaven and do what is right. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40“Now, my God, look at us. Listen to the prayers we pray in this place.
41Now, rise, Lord God, and come to your resting place.
Come with the Ark of the Agreement that shows your strength.
Let your priests receive your salvation, Lord God,
and may your holy people be happy because of your goodness.
42Lord God, do not reject your appointed one.
Remember your love for your servant David.”
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.