54. When Solomon prayed this prayer to the Lord, he was on his knees in front of the Lord’S altar and his arms were raised toward heaven. When he finished praying, he stood up.
55. Then, in a loud voice, he asked God to bless all the people of Israel. Solomon said,
56. “Praise the Lord! He promised to give rest to his people, Israel. And he has given us rest! He used his servant Moses and made many good promises to the people of Israel. And he has kept every one of them!
57. I pray that the Lord our God will be with us, as he was with our ancestors. I pray that he will never leave us.
58. I pray that we will turn to him and follow him. Then we will obey all the laws, decisions, and commands that he gave our ancestors.
59. I pray that the Lord our God will always remember this prayer and what I have asked. I pray that he will do these things for his servant, the king, and for his people, Israel. I pray that he will do this every day.
60. If he will do these things, all the people of the world will know that the Lord is the only true God.
61. You people must be loyal and true to the Lord our God. You must always follow and obey all of his laws and commands. You must continue to obey in the future as you do now.”
62. Then King Solomon and all the Israelites with him offered sacrifices to the Lord.
63. Solomon killed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep as fellowship offerings to the Lord. In this way the king and the people showed that they had dedicated the Temple to the Lord.
64. King Solomon also dedicated the yard right in front of the Lord’S Temple. He offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat from the animals that were used as fellowship offerings. King Solomon made these offerings there in the yard. He did this because the bronze altar in front of the Lord was too small to hold them all.