2 Chronicles 6
1. Then said * Solomon, The LORD hath said * that he would dwell * in the thick darkness.
2. But I have built * an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling * for ever.
3. And the king turned * his face,and blessed * the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood * .
4. And he said * , Blessed * be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled * that which he spake * with his mouth to my father David, saying * ,
5. Since the day that I brought forth * my people out of the land of Egypt I chose * no city among all the tribes of Israel to build * an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose * I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:
6. But I have chosen * Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen * David to be over my people Israel.
7. Now it was in the heart of David my father to build * an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
8. But the LORD said * to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build * an house for my name, thou didst well * in that it was in thine heart:
9. Notwithstanding thou shalt not build * the house; but thy son which shall come forth * out of thy loins, he shall build * the house for my name.
10. The LORD therefore hath performed * his word that he hath spoken * : for I am risen up * in the room of David my father,and am set * on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised * , and have built * the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
11. And in it have I put * the ark,wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made * with the children of Israel.
12. And he stood * before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth * his hands:
13. For Solomon had made * a brasen scaffold, of 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 congregation of Israel, and spread forth * his hands toward heaven,
14. And said * , O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest * covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk * before thee with all their hearts:
15. Thou which hast kept * with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised * him; and spakest * with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled * it with thine hand, as it is this day.
16. Now therefore, O LORD 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 * upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed * to their way to walk * in my law, as thou hast walked * before me.
17. Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified * , which thou hast spoken * unto thy servant David.
18. But 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 built * !
19. Have respect * therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken * unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth * before thee:
20. That thine eyes may be open * upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said * that thou wouldest put * thy name there; to hearken * unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth * toward this place.
21. Hearken * therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make * toward this place: hear * thou from thy dwelling * place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest * , forgive * .
22. If a man sin * against his neighbour, and an oath be laid * upon him to make him swear * , and the oath come * before thine altar in this house;
23. Then hear * thou from heaven, and do * , and judge * thy servants, by requiting * the wicked, by recompensing * his way upon his own head; and by justifying * the righteous, by giving * him according to his righteousness.
24. And if thy people Israel be put to the worse * before the enemy * , because they have sinned * against thee; and shall return * and confess * thy name, and pray * and make supplication * before thee in this house;
25. Then hear * thou from the heavens, and forgive * the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again * unto the land which thou gavest * to them and to their fathers.
26. When the heaven is shut up * , and there is no rain, because they have sinned * against thee; yet if they pray * toward this place, and confess * thy name, and turn * from their sin, when thou dost afflict * them;
27. Then hear * thou from heaven, and forgive * the sin of thy servants,and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught * them the good way, wherein they should walk * ; and send * rain upon thy land, which thou hast given * unto thy people for an inheritance.
28. If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies * besiege * them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:
29. Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know * his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth * his hands in this house:
30. Then hear * thou from heaven thy dwelling * place, and forgive * , and render * unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest * ; (for thou only knowest * the hearts of the children of men:)
31. That they may fear * thee, to walk * in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest * unto our fathers.
32. Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come * from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out * arm; if they come * and pray * in this house;
33. Then hear * thou from the heavens,even from thy dwelling * place, and do * according to all that the stranger calleth * to thee for; that all people of the earth may know * thy name, and fear * thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know * that this house which I have built * is called * by thy name.
34. If thy people go out * to war against their enemies * by the way that 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;
35. Then hear * thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain * their cause.
36. If they sin * against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth * not,) and thou be angry * with them, and deliver * them over before their enemies * , and they carry them away * captives * unto a land far off or near;
37. Yet if they bethink * themselves in the land whither they are carried captive * , and turn * and pray * unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying * , We have sinned * , we have done amiss * , and have dealt wickedly * ;
38. If they return * to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives * , and pray * toward their land, which thou gavest * unto their fathers,and toward the city which thou hast chosen * , and toward the house which I have built * for thy name:
39. Then hear * thou from the heavens,even from thy dwelling * place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain * their cause, and forgive * thy people which have sinned * against thee.
40. Now, 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.
41. Now therefore arise * , O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed * with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice * in goodness.
42. O LORD God, turn not away * the face of thine anointed: remember * the mercies of David thy servant.
