11. I’ve put the ark which contains the Lord’s promise to Israel there.”
12. In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of the Lord’s altar. He stretched out his hands ⌊to pray⌋.
13. (Solomon had made a bronze platform 7½ feet long, 7½ feet wide, and 4½ feet high. He put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on the platform, knelt in front of the entire assembly, and stretched out his hands toward heaven.)
14. He said,“Lord God of Israel,there is no god like you in heaven or on earth.You keep your promise of mercy to your servants,who obey you wholeheartedly.
15. You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant.With your mouth you promised it.With your hand you carried it out as it is today.
16. “Now, Lord God of Israel,keep your promise to my father David, your servant.You said, ‘You will never fail to have an heirsitting in front of me on the throne of Israelif your descendants are faithful to meas you have been faithful to me.’
17. “So now, Lord God of Israel,may the promise you made to David, your servant, come true.
18. “Does God really live on earth with people?If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you,then how can this temple that I have built?
19. Nevertheless, my Lord God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy.Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you.
20. Day and night may your eyes be on this temple,the place about which you said your name will be there.Listen to me as I pray toward this place.
21. Hear the plea for mercythat your people Israel and I pray toward this place.Hear us in heaven, the place where you live.Hear and forgive.
22. “If anyone sins against another personand is required to take an oathand comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,
23. then hear ⌊that person⌋ in heaven, take action, and make a decision.Repay the guilty person with the proper punishment,but declare the innocent person innocent.
24. “An enemy may defeat your people Israelbecause they have sinned against you.But when your people turn, praise your name, pray,and plead with you in this temple,
25. then hear ⌊them⌋ in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel,and bring them back to the landthat you gave to them and their ancestors.
26. “When the sky is shut and there’s no rainbecause they are sinning against youand they pray toward this place, praise your name,and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer,
27. then hear ⌊them⌋ in heaven.Forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel.Teach them the proper way to live.Then send rain on the land,which you gave to your people as an inheritance.
28. “There may be famine in the land.Plant diseases, heat waves, funguses, locusts,or grasshoppers may destroy crops.Enemies may blockade Israel’s city gates.During every plague or sickness