17. My father David wanted to build a temple for the name of the Lord, Israel’s God.
18. "But the Lord said to my father David, ‘It is very good that you thought to build a temple for my name.
19. Nevertheless, you yourself won’t build that temple. Instead, your very own son will build the temple for my name.’
20. The Lord has kept his promise—I have succeeded my father David on Israel’s throne just as the Lord said, and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord, Israel’s God.
21. There I’ve placed the chest that contains the covenant that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt."
22. Solomon stood before the Lord’s altar in front of the entire Israelite assembly and, spreading out his hands toward the sky,
23. he said:Lord God of Israel, there’s no god like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep the covenant and show loyalty to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.
24. This is the covenant you kept with your servant David, my father, which you promised him. Today, you have fulfilled what you promised.
25. So now, Lord, Israel’s God, keep what you promised my father David, your servant, when you said to him, "You will never fail to have a successor sitting on Israel’s throne as long as your descendants carefully walk before me just as you walked before me."
26. So now, God of Israel, may your promise to your servant David, my father, come true.
27. But how could God possibly live on earth? If heaven, even the highest heaven, can’t contain you, how can this temple that I’ve built contain you?
28. Lord my God, listen to your servant’s prayer and request, and hear the cry and prayer that your servant prays to you today.
29. Constantly watch over this temple, the place about which you said, "My name will be there," and listen to the prayer that your servant is praying toward this place.
30. Listen to the request of your servant and your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Listen from your heavenly dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive!
31. If someone wrongs another and must make a solemn pledge asserting innocence before your altar in this temple,
32. then listen from heaven, act, and decide which of your servants is right. Condemn the guilty party, repaying them for their conduct, but justify the innocent person, repaying them for their righteousness.
33. If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, but then they change their hearts and lives, give thanks to your name, and ask for mercy before you at this temple,