Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

22 ^zThen Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, 23 and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, ^athere is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, ^bkeeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; 24 you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; ^ehow much less this house that I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, 29 that your ^feyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ^g‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers ^htoward this place.

41 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake 42 (for they shall hear of your ^ogreat name and your ^pmighty hand, and of your ^qoutstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may ^rknow your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is ^scalled by your name.