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Chapter 6
1 Then Solomon said: The Lord promised that he would dwell in a cloud.
2 But I have built a house to his name, that he might dwell there for ever.
3 And the king turned his face, and blessed all the multitude of Israel (for all the multitude stood attentive) and he said:
4 Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who has accomplished in deed that which he spoke to David my father, saying:
5 From the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel, for a house to be built in it to my name: neither chose I any other man, to be the ruler of my people Israel.
6 But I chose Jerusalem, that my name might be there: and I chose David to set him over my people Israel.
7 And whereas David my father had a mind to build a house to the name of the Lord the God of Israel,
8 The Lord said to him: Forasmuch as it was your will to build a house to my name, you have done well indeed in having such a will:
9 But you shall not build the house, but your son, who shall come out of your loins, he shall build a house to my name.
10 The Lord therefore has accomplished his word which he spoke: and I am risen up in the place of David my father, and sit upon the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised: and have built a house to the name of the Lord God of Israel.
11 And I have put in it the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which he made with the children of Israel.
12 And he stood before the altar of the I Lord, in presence of all the multitude of Israel, and stretched forth his hands.
13 For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, and had set it in the midst of the temple, which was five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high: and he stood upon it: then kneeling down in the presence of all the multitude of Israel, and lifting up his hands towards heaven,
14 He said: O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven nor in earth: who keep covenant and mercy with your servants, that walk before you with all their hearts:
15 Who have performed to your servant David my father all that you have promised him: and have accomplished in fact, what you have spoken with your mouth, as also the present time proves.
16 Now then, O Lord God of Israel, fulfil to your servant David my father, whatsoever you have promised him, saying: There shall not fail you a man in my sight, to sit upon the throne of Israel: yet so that your children take heed to their ways, and walk in my law, as you have walked before me.
17 And now, Lord God of Israel, let your word be established which you have spoken to your servant David.
18 Is it credible then that God should dwell with men on the earth? If heaven and the heavens of heavens do not contain you, how much less this house, which I have built?
19 But to this end only it is made, that you may regard the prayer of your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God: and may hear the prayers which your servant pours out before you.
20 That you may open your eyes upon this house day and night, upon the place wherein you have promised that your name should be called upon,
21 And that you would hear the prayer which your servant prays in it: hearken then to the prayers of your servant, and of your people Israel. Whosoever shall pray in this place, hear you from your dwelling place, that is, from heaven, and shew mercy.
22 If any man sin against his neighbour, and come to swear against him, and bind himself with a curse before the altar in this house:
23 Then hear you from heaven, and do justice to your servants, so as to requite the wicked by making his wickedness fall upon his own head, and to revenge the just, rewarding him according to his justice.
24 If your people Israel be overcome by their enemies, (for they will sin against you,) and being converted shall do penance, and call upon your name, and pray to you in this place,
25 Then hear you from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back into the land, which you gave to them, and their fathers.
26 If the heavens be shut up, and there fall no rain by reason of the sine of the people, and they shall pray to you in this place, and confess to your name, and be converted from their sins, when you do afflict them,
27 Then hear you from heaven, O Lord, and forgive the sine of your servants and of your people Israel, and teach them the good way, in which they may walk: and give rain to your land which you have given to your people to possess.
28 If a famine arise in the land, or a pestilence or blasting, or mildew, or locusts, or caterpillars: or if their enemies waste the country, and besiege the cities, whatsoever scourge or infirmity shall be upon them:
29 Then if any of your people Israel, knowing his own scourge and infirmity shall pray, and shall spread forth his hands in this house,
30 Hear you from heaven, from your high dwelling place, and forgive, and render to every one according to his ways, which you know him to have in his heart: (for you only know the hearts of the children of men:)
31 That they may fear you, and walk in your ways all the days that they live upon the face of the land, which you have given to our fathers.
32 If the stranger also, who is not of your people Israel, come from a far country, for the sake of your great name, and your strong hand, and your stretched out arm, and adore in this place:
33 Hear you from heaven your firm dwelling place, and do all that which that stranger shall call upon you for: that all the people of the earth may know your name, and may fear you, as your people Israel, and may know, that your name is invoked upon this house, which I have built.
34 If your people go out to war against their enemies, by the way that you shall send them, and adore you towards the way of this city, which you have chosen, and the house which I have built to your name:
35 Then hear you from heaven their prayers, and their supplications, and revenge them.
36 And if they sin against you (for there is no man that sins not) and you be angry with them, and deliver them up to their enemies, and they lead them away captive to a land either afar off, or near at hand,
37 And if they be converted in their heart in the land to which they were led / captive, and do penance, and pray to you in the land of their captivity, saying: We have sinned, we have done wickedly, we have dealt unjustly:
38 And return to you with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, to which they were led away, and adore you towards the way of their own land which you gave their fathers, and of the city, which you have chosen, and the house which I have built to your name:
39 Then hear you from heaven, that is, from your firm dwelling place, their prayers, and do judgment, and forgive your people, although they have sinned:
40 For you are my God: let your eyes, I beseech you, be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer, that is made in this place.
41 Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into your resting place, you and the ark of your strength: let your priests, O Lord God, put on salvation, and your saints rejoice in good things.
42 O Lord God, turn not away the face of your anointed: remember the mercies of David your servant.