< Kings III 5 >
1 And Chiram king of Tyre sent his servants to anoint Solomon in the room of David his father, because Chiram always loved David.
Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father, and Hiram had always loved David.
2 And Solomon sent to Chiram, saying,
Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
3 You knew my father David, that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord my God because of the wars that compassed him about, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.
“You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which were around him on every side, until the LORD put his enemies under the soles of his feet.
4 And now the Lord my God has given me rest round about; there is no one plotting against [me], and there is no evil trespass [against me].
But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is no enemy and no evil occurrence.
5 And, behold, I intend to build a house to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord God spoke to my father David, saying, Your son whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build a house to my name.
Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place shall build the house for my name.’
6 And now command, and let [men] cut wood for me out of Libanus: and, behold, my servants [shall be] with your servants, and I will give you the wages of your service, according to all that you shall say, because you know that we have no one skilled in cutting timber like the Sidonians.
Now therefore command that cedar trees be cut for me out of Lebanon. My servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say. For you know that there is nobody amongst us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
7 And it came to pass, as soon as Chiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed [be] God today, who has given to David a wise son over this numerous people.
When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, “Blessed is the LORD today, who has given to David a wise son to rule over this great people.”
8 And he sent to Solomon, saying, I have listened concerning all that you have sent to me for: I will do all your will: [as for] timber of cedar and fir,
Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning cypress timber.
9 my servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea: I will form them [into] rafts, [and bring them] to the place which you shall send to me [about]; and I will land them there, and you shall take [them] up: and you shall do my will, in giving bread to my household.
My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you specify to me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you will receive them. You will accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.”
10 So Chiram gave to Solomon cedars, and fir trees, and all his desire.
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar timber and cypress timber according to all his desire.
11 And Solomon gave to Chiram twenty thousand measures of wheat as food for his house, and twenty thousand baths of beaten oil thus Solomon gave to Chiram yearly.
Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat for food to his household, and twenty cors of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.
12 And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon as he promised him; and there was peace between Chiram and Solomon, and they made a covenant between them.
The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.
13 And the king raised a levy out of all Israel, and the levy was thirty thousand men.
King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
14 And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand taking turn every month: they were a month in Libanus and two months at home: and Adoniram [was] over the levy.
He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: for a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labour.
15 And Solomon had seventy thousand bearers of burdens, and eighty thousand hewers of stone in the mountain;
Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains,
16 besides the rulers that were appointed over the works of Solomon, [there were] three thousand six hundred masters who wrought in the works.
besides Solomon’s chief officers who were over the work: three thousand and three hundred who ruled over the people who laboured in the work.
17 [And the king commanded and they ] [brought great stones, precious stones for the foundation of the house, and unhewn stones. ]
The king commanded, and they cut out large stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.
18 And they prepared the stones and the timber [during] three years.
Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.