11. I have put the Box of the Agreement in the Temple. The Lord’S Agreement with Israel is in that box.”
12-13. Solomon had made a bronze platform and placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard. The platform was 5 cubits long, 5 cubits wide, and 3 cubits tall. Solomon stood on the platform and faced the Lord’S altar. In front of all the Israelites who were gathered together, Solomon kneeled, spread his hands out toward heaven,
14. and said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep the agreement that you made with your people. You are kind and loyal to those who follow you with all their heart.
15. You made a promise to your servant, my father David, and you kept that promise. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you made it come true today.
16. Now, Lord, God of Israel, keep the other promises you made to your servant David, my father. You said, ‘David, if your sons carefully obey me as you did, you will always have someone from your family ruling the people of Israel.’
17. Again, Lord, God of Israel, I ask you to keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David.
18. “But, God, will you really live here with us on the earth? The whole sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you. Certainly this house that I built cannot contain you either.
19. But please listen to my prayer and my request. I am your servant, and you are the Lord my God. Hear this prayer that I am praying to you today.
20. In the past you said, ‘I will be honored there.’ So please watch over this Temple, night and day. And listen to my prayer as I turn toward this Temple and pray to you.
21. And please listen to our prayers in the future when I and your people Israel turn to this place and pray to you. We know that you live in heaven. We ask you to hear our prayer there and forgive us.
22. “Whoever does wrong to someone will be brought to this altar. If they are not guilty, they will make an oath and promise that they are innocent.
23. Please listen from heaven and judge them. If they are guilty, please show us that they are guilty. And if they are innocent, please show us that they are not guilty.
24. “Sometimes your people Israel will sin against you, and their enemies will defeat them. Then the people will come back to you and praise you. They will pray to you in this Temple.