1 Kings 8:22-35
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
22Then Solomon astood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and bspread out his hands toward heaven, 23and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, cthere is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, dkeeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; 24you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. eYou spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 25Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, f‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ 26 gNow therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.27“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, hheaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 28Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, 29 ithat your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, j‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 30And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
31“If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take kan oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, 32then hear in heaven and act and judge your servants, lcondemning the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
33 m“When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and nif they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, 34then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers.
35 o“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them,
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