2 Chronicles 6

1Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

1Then Solomon said, 'The LORD said that he would live in the thick dark cloud.'

2But I have built thee a house of habitation, and a place for thee to dwell in for ever.

2'But I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to live in forever.'

3And the king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.

3Then the king turned around and blessed the entire assembly of Israel while everyone was standing.

4And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hands fulfilled it, saying,

4He said, 'Praise the LORD, the God of Israel. With his own mouth he made a promise to my father David, and by his own power he has fulfilled it. He said:'

5Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel:

5'From the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I did not choose a city in any tribe of Israel to build a temple for my Name to be there, nor did I choose a man to be leader over my people Israel.'

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

6'But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place for my Name, and I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.'

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

7'My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.'

8But Jehovah said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart:

8'But the LORD said to my father David, "You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name."'

9nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.

9'"However, you are not the one to build the temple. Instead, your son, your own flesh and blood, will be the one to build the temple for my Name."'

10And Jehovah hath performed his word that he spake; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and have built the house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.

10'The LORD has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded my father David and I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.'

11And there have I set the ark, wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with the children of Israel.

11'There I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant the LORD made with the people of Israel.'

12And he stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands

12Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.

13(for Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven);

13(He had made a bronze platform seven and a half feet long, seven and a half feet wide, and four and a half feet high, and had placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard. He stood on it, then knelt down in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread his hands toward heaven,)

14and he said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven, or on earth; who keepest covenant and lovingkindness with thy servants, that walk before thee with all their heart;

14and said: 'LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your covenant of loyal love with your servants who follow you with all their heart.'

15who hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou didst promise him: yea, thou spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thy hand, as it is this day.

15'You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. With your mouth you spoke it, and with your hand you have fulfilled it today.'

16Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only thy children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as thou hast walked before me.

16'Now therefore, LORD, God of Israel, keep the other promise you made to your servant David, my father, when you said, "You will never fail to have a successor sitting on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful to follow my law just as you have walked before me."'

17Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David.

17'So now, LORD, God of Israel, let the promise you gave to your servant David come true.'

18But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have builded!

18'But will God really live on earth with humans? Even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!'

19Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Jehovah my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee;

19'Yet, LORD my God, please listen to the prayer and the plea of your servant. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying to you.'

20that thine eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall pray toward this place.

20'May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night—this place where you said you would put your Name. Hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.'

21And hearken thou to the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yea, hear thou from thy dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

21'Hear the humble requests of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, where you live, and when you hear, forgive.'

22If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and he come and swear before thine altar in this house;

22'If someone wrongs a neighbor and is required to take an oath, and they come to take that oath before your altar in this temple,'

23then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, requiting the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

23'then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, punishing the guilty by bringing what they have done back on their own heads, and declaring the innocent not guilty, rewarding them for their righteousness.'

24And if thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;

24'If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they turn back, confess your name, and pray and plead with you in this temple,'

25then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.

25'then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel. Bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.'

26When the heavens are shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them:

26'When the skies are shut and there is no rain because the people have sinned against you, and then they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have punished them,'

27then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou teachest them the good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

27'then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people as their inheritance.'

28If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague or whatsoever sickness there be;

28'If there is famine in the land, or plague, or if crops are destroyed by scorching heat, mildew, locusts, or grasshoppers, or if an enemy besieges their cities—whatever disaster or disease happens—'

29what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread forth his hands toward this house:

29'then listen to any prayer or plea made by one person or by all your people Israel. When each person recognizes their own pain and suffering and spreads out their hands toward this temple,'

30then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and render unto every man according to all his ways, whose heart thou knowest (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of the children of men);

30'then hear from heaven, your home, and forgive. Deal with everyone according to what they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart),'

31that they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

31'so that they may fear you and follow your ways as long as they live in the land you gave our ancestors.'

32Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come from a far country for thy great name’s sake, and thy mighty hand, and thine outstretched arm; when they shall come and pray toward this house:

32'As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name, your mighty hand, and your powerful arm—when they come and pray toward this temple,'

33then hear thou from heaven, even from thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calleth to thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.

33'then hear from heaven, your home, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you. Then all the peoples of the earth will know your name and fear you, just as your own people Israel do, and they will know that this house I have built bears your Name.'

34If thy people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;

34'When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name,'

35then hear thou from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

35'then hear their prayer and their plea from heaven, and defend their cause.'

36If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive unto a land far off or near;

36'When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near;'

37yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;

37'if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and they repent and plead with you in that land, saying, "We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly";'

38if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:

38'and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name;'

39then hear thou from heaven, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee.

39'then hear their prayer and their pleas from heaven, your home, and defend their cause. Forgive your people, who have sinned against you.'

40Now, O my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place.

40'Now, my God, please let your eyes be open and your ears be alert to the prayers offered in this place.'

41Now therefore arise, O Jehovah God, into thy resting-place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Jehovah God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

41'And now, arise, LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the Ark of your power. May your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.'

42O Jehovah God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember thy lovingkindnesses to David thy servant.

42'LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the loyal love promised to your servant David.'