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1 Kings 8 CEV
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>1 Kings 8 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_kings/8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_kings/8-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > 1 Kings 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_kings/7.htm" title="1 Kings 7">◄</a> 1 Kings 8 <a href="../1_kings/9.htm" title="1 Kings 9">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Solomon Brings the Sacred Chest to the Temple</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="2CH 5:2-6:2">2 Chronicles 5.2—6.2</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_1"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.1-1Kgs.8.2" class="v11_8_1">1-2</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.1-1Kgs.8.2!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The sacred chest had been kept on Mount Zion, also known as the city of David. But Solomon decided to have the chest moved to the temple while everyone was in Jerusalem, celebrating the Festival of Shelters during Ethanim,<a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.1-1Kgs.8.2!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> the seventh month of the year.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_1">Solomon called together the important leaders of Israel. </span><span class="v11_8_3"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.3-1Kgs.8.4" class="v11_8_3">3-4</span>Then the priests and the Levites carried to the temple the sacred chest, the sacred tent, and the objects used for worship. </span><span class="v11_8_5"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.5" class="v11_8_5">5</span>Solomon and a crowd of people stood in front of the chest and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_6"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.6" class="v11_8_6">6</span>The priests carried the chest into the most holy place and put it under the winged creatures, </span><span class="v11_8_7"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.7" class="v11_8_7">7</span>whose wings covered both the chest and the poles used for carrying it. </span><span class="v11_8_8"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.8" class="v11_8_8">8</span>The poles were so long that they could be seen from right outside the most holy place, but not from anywhere else. And they stayed there from then on.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_9"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.9" class="v11_8_9">9</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.9!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The only things kept in the chest were the two flat stones Moses had put there when the <span class="nd">Lord</span> made his agreement with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai,<a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.9!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> after bringing them out of Egypt.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_10"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.10" class="v11_8_10">10</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.10!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Suddenly a cloud filled the temple as the priests were leaving the most holy place. </span><span class="v11_8_11"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.11" class="v11_8_11">11</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span>'s glory was in the cloud, and the light from it was so bright that the priests could not stay inside to do their work. </span><span class="v11_8_12"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.12" class="v11_8_12">12</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.12!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Then Solomon prayed:</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v11_8_12">“Our <span class="nd">Lord</span>, you said that you</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v11_8_12">would live in a dark cloud.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v11_8_13"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.13" class="v11_8_13">13</span>Now I have built a glorious temple</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v11_8_13">where you can live forever.”</span></p><h3 class="s1">Solomon Speaks to the People</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="2CH 6:3-11">2 Chronicles 6.3-11</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_14"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.14" class="v11_8_14">14</span>Solomon turned toward the people standing there. Then he blessed them </span><span class="v11_8_15"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.15-1Kgs.8.16" class="v11_8_15">15-16</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.15-1Kgs.8.16!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> and said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_15">Praise the <span class="nd">Lord</span> God of Israel! Long ago he brought his people out of Egypt. He did not choose a city from any tribe in Israel where his temple would be built, but he kept his promise to make my father David the king of Israel.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_17"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.17" class="v11_8_17">17</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.17!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> So when David wanted to build a temple for the <span class="nd">Lord</span> God of Israel, </span><span class="v11_8_18"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.18" class="v11_8_18">18</span>the <span class="nd">Lord</span> said, “It's good that you want to build a temple where I can be worshiped. </span><span class="v11_8_19"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.19" class="v11_8_19">19</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.19!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But you're not the one to do it. Your son will build a temple to honor me.”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_20"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.20" class="v11_8_20">20</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> has done what he promised. I am the king of Israel like my father, and I've built a temple for the <span class="nd">Lord</span> our God. </span><span class="v11_8_21"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.21" class="v11_8_21">21</span>I've also made a place in the temple for the sacred chest. And in that chest are the two flat stones on which is written the solemn agreement the <span class="nd">Lord</span> made with our ancestors when he led them out of Egypt.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Solomon Prays at the Temple</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="2CH 6:12-42">2 Chronicles 6.12-42</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_22"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.22" class="v11_8_22">22</span>Solomon stood facing the altar with everyone standing behind him. Then he lifted his arms toward heaven </span><span class="v11_8_23"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.23" class="v11_8_23">23</span>and prayed:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_23"><span class="nd">Lord</span> God of Israel, no other god in heaven or on earth is like you!</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_23">You never forget the agreement you made with your people, and you are loyal to anyone who faithfully obeys your teachings. </span><span class="v11_8_24"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.24" class="v11_8_24">24</span>My father David was your servant, and today you have kept every promise you made to him.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_25"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.25" class="v11_8_25">25</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.25!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> <span class="nd">Lord</span> God of Israel, you promised my father that someone from his family would always be king of Israel, if they do their best to obey you, just as he did. </span><span class="v11_8_26"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.26" class="v11_8_26">26</span>Please keep this promise you made to your servant David.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_27"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.27" class="v11_8_27">27</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.27!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> There's not enough room in all of heaven for you, <span class="nd">Lord</span> God. How could you possibly live on earth in this temple I have built? </span><span class="v11_8_28"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.28" class="v11_8_28">28</span>But I ask you to answer my prayer. </span><span class="v11_8_29"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.29" class="v11_8_29">29</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.29!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> This is the temple where you have chosen to be worshiped. Please watch over it day and night and listen when I turn toward it and pray. </span><span class="v11_8_30"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.30" class="v11_8_30">30</span>I am your servant, and the people of Israel belong to you. So whenever any of us look toward this temple and pray, answer from your home in heaven and forgive our sins.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_31"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.31" class="v11_8_31">31</span>Suppose someone accuses a person of a crime, and the accused has to stand in front of the altar in your temple and say, “I swear I am innocent!” </span><span class="v11_8_32"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.32" class="v11_8_32">32</span>Listen from heaven and decide who is right. Then punish the guilty person and let the innocent one go free.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_33"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.33" class="v11_8_33">33</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.33!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Suppose your people Israel sin against you, and then an enemy defeats them. If they come to this temple and beg for forgiveness, </span><span class="v11_8_34"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.34" class="v11_8_34">34</span>listen from your home in heaven. Forgive them and bring them back to the land you gave their ancestors.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_35"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.35" class="v11_8_35">35</span>Suppose your people sin against you, and you punish them by holding back the rain. If they turn toward this temple and pray in your name and stop sinning, </span><span class="v11_8_36"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.36" class="v11_8_36">36</span>listen from your home in heaven and forgive them. The people of Israel are your servants, so teach them to live right. And please send rain on the land you gave them to be theirs forever.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_37"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.37" class="v11_8_37">37</span>Sometimes the crops may dry up or rot or be eaten by locusts<a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.37!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> or grasshoppers, and your people will be starving. Sometimes enemies may surround their towns, or your people will become sick with deadly diseases. </span><span class="v11_8_38"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.38" class="v11_8_38">38</span>Listen when anyone in Israel truly feels sorry and sincerely prays with arms lifted toward your temple. </span><span class="v11_8_39"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.39" class="v11_8_39">39</span>You know what is in everyone's heart. So from your home in heaven answer their prayers, according to the way they live and what is in their hearts. </span><span class="v11_8_40"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.40" class="v11_8_40">40</span>Then your people will worship and obey you for as long as they live in the land you gave their ancestors.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_41"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.41-1Kgs.8.42" class="v11_8_41">41-42</span>Foreigners will hear about you and your mighty power, and some of them will come to live among your people Israel. If any of them pray toward this temple, </span><span class="v11_8_43"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.43" class="v11_8_43">43</span>listen from your home in heaven and answer their prayers. Then everyone on earth will worship you, just like your people Israel, and they will know that I have built this temple to honor you.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_44"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.44" class="v11_8_44">44</span>Our <span class="nd">Lord</span>, sometimes you will order your people to attack their enemies. Then your people will turn toward this temple I have built for you in your chosen city, and they will pray to you. </span><span class="v11_8_45"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.45" class="v11_8_45">45</span>Answer their prayers from heaven and give them victory.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_46"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.46" class="v11_8_46">46</span>Everyone sins. But when your people sin against you, suppose you get angry enough to let their enemies drag them away to foreign countries. </span><span class="v11_8_47"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.47-1Kgs.8.49" class="v11_8_47">47-49</span>Later, they may feel sorry for what they did and ask your forgiveness. Answer them when they pray toward this temple I have built for you in your chosen city, here in this land you gave their ancestors. From your home in heaven, listen to their sincere prayers and do what they ask. </span><span class="v11_8_50"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.50" class="v11_8_50">50</span>Forgive your people no matter how much they have sinned against you. Make the enemies who defeated them be kind to them. </span><span class="v11_8_51"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.51" class="v11_8_51">51</span>Remember, they are the people you chose and rescued from Egypt that was like a blazing fire to them.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_52"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.52" class="v11_8_52">52</span>I am your servant, and the people of Israel belong to you. So listen when any of us pray and cry out for your help. </span><span class="v11_8_53"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.53" class="v11_8_53">53</span>When you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, you told your servant Moses to say to them, “From all people on earth, the <span class="nd">Lord</span> God has chosen you to be his very own.”</span></p><h3 class="s1">Solomon Blesses the People</h3><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_54"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.54" class="v11_8_54">54</span>When Solomon finished his prayer at the altar, he was kneeling with his arms lifted toward heaven. He stood up, </span><span class="v11_8_55"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.55" class="v11_8_55">55</span>turned toward the people, blessed them, and said loudly:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_56"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.56" class="v11_8_56">56</span><a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.56!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Praise the <span class="nd">Lord</span>! He has kept his promise and given us peace. Every good thing he promised to his servant Moses has happened.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_57"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.57" class="v11_8_57">57</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> our God was with our ancestors to help them, and I pray that he will be with us and never abandon us. </span><span class="v11_8_58"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.58" class="v11_8_58">58</span>May the <span class="nd">Lord</span> help us obey him and follow all the laws and teachings he gave our ancestors.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_59"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.59" class="v11_8_59">59</span>I pray that the <span class="nd">Lord</span> our God will remember my prayer day and night. May he help everyone in Israel each day, in whatever way we need it. </span><span class="v11_8_60"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.60" class="v11_8_60">60</span>Then every nation will know that the <span class="nd">Lord</span> is the only true God.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v11_8_61"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.61" class="v11_8_61">61</span>Obey the <span class="nd">Lord</span> our God and follow his commands with all your heart, just as you are doing today.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Solomon Dedicates the Temple</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="2CH 7:4-10">2 Chronicles 7.4-10</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_62"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.62-1Kgs.8.63" class="v11_8_62">62-63</span>Solomon and the people dedicated the temple to the <span class="nd">Lord</span> by offering 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep as sacrifices to ask the <span class="nd">Lord</span>'s blessing.<a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.62-1Kgs.8.63!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v11_8_64"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.64" class="v11_8_64">64</span>On that day, Solomon dedicated the courtyard in front of the temple and made it acceptable for worship. He offered the sacrifices there because the bronze altar in front of the temple was too small.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v11_8_65"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.65" class="v11_8_65">65</span>Solomon and the huge crowd celebrated the Festival of Shelters at the temple for seven days.<a href="#fn" id="link_1Kgs.8.65!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> There were people from as far away as the Egyptian Gorge in the south and Lebo-Hamath in the north. </span><span class="v11_8_66"><span class="reftext" id="1Kgs.8.66" class="v11_8_66">66</span>Then on the eighth day, he sent everyone home. They said goodbye and left, very happy, because of all the good things the <span class="nd">Lord</span> had done for his servant David and his people Israel.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.1,2 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Ethanim: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-September to mid-October.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.9 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Sinai: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “Horeb.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.37 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">locusts: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">A type of grasshopper that comes in swarms and causes great damage to plant life.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.62,63 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">sacrifices to ask the <char style="nd">Lord</char>'s blessing: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See Leviticus 3.1-17.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.65 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">seven days: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One ancient translation; Hebrew “seven days and seven more days, fourteen days in all.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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