New Living Translation

New King James Version

Preparations for Building the Temple

aKing Hiram of Tyre had always been a loyal friend of David. When Hiram learned that David’s son Solomon was the new king of Israel, he sent ambassadors to congratulate him.

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Solomon Prepares to Build the Temple

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always loved David.

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Then Solomon sent this message back to Hiram:

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Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

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“You know that my father, David, was not able to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD his God because of the many wars waged against him by surrounding nations. He could not build until the LORD gave him victory over all his enemies.

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You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put [a]his foes under the soles of his feet.

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But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well.

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But now the Lord my God has given me rest[b] on every side; there is neither adversary nor [c]evil occurrence.

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So I am planning to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD my God, just as he had instructed my father, David. For the LORD told him, ‘Your son, whom I will place on your throne, will build the Temple to honor my name.’

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And behold, [d]I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.”

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“Therefore, please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians!”

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Now therefore, command that they cut down cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know there is none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.

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When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he was very pleased and said, “Praise the LORD today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel.”

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So it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said,
Blessed be the Lord this day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people!

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Then he sent this reply to Solomon:
“I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need.

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Then Hiram sent to Solomon, saying:
I have considered the message which you sent me, and I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs.

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My servants will bring the logs from the Lebanon mountains to the Mediterranean Seab and make them into rafts and float them along the coast to whatever place you choose. Then we will break the rafts apart so you can carry the logs away. You can pay me by supplying me with food for my household.”

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My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can take them away. And you shall fulfill my desire by giving food for my household.

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So Hiram supplied as much cedar and cypress timber as Solomon desired.

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Then Hiram gave Solomon cedar and cypress logs according to all his desire.

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In return, Solomon sent him an annual payment of 100,000 bushelsc of wheat for his household and 110,000 gallonsd of pure olive oil.

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And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand [e]kors of wheat as food for his household, and [f]twenty kors of pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year.

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So the LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he had promised. And Hiram and Solomon made a formal alliance of peace.

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So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.

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Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.

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Then King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men.

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He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 every month, so that each man would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of this labor force.

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And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the labor force.

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Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers, 80,000 quarry workers in the hill country,

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Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried stone in the mountains,

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and 3,600e foremen to supervise the work.

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besides three thousand [g]three hundred from the chiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work.

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At the king’s command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation of the Temple.

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And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the [h]temple.

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Men from the city of Gebal helped Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders prepare the timber and stone for the Temple.

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So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried them; and they prepared timber and stones to build the [i]temple.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

1 Kings 5

1 Kings 5