1 Kings 7

1 However, it took Solomon thirteen years to finish building the whole of his palace.

But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.

2 He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon— a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. There were four rows of cedar pillars that supported cedar beams.

He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; its length [was] a hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its hight thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.

3 The cedar roof of the house was on top of the beams that rested on the pillars. There were forty-five beams, fifteen in each row.

And [it was] covered with cedar above upon the beams, that [lay] on forty-five pillars, fifteen [in] a row.

4 The windows were placed high up, in three rows facing each other.

And [there were] windows in three rows, and light [was] against light [in] three ranks.

5 All the doorways and door casings had rectangular frames, the openings facing each other in sets of three.

And all the doors and posts [were] square, with the windows: and light [was] against light [in] three ranks.

6 He also had the Hall of Columns made—forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide. It had a porch in front, its canopy also supported by columns.

And he made a porch of pillars; its length [was] fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits: and the porch [was] before them: and the [other] pillars and the thick beams [were] before them.

7 The throne room where he sat as judge was called the Hall of Justice, lined with cedar panels from floor to ceiling.

Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, [even] the porch of judgment: and [it was] covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.

8 Solomon's own palace where he lived was in a courtyard behind the porch, made in a similar way to the Temple. He also had a palace made for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he'd married.

And his house where he dwelt [had] another court within the porch, [which] was of the like work. Solomon made also a house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had married, like to this porch.

9 All these buildings were built using stone blocks that were expensive to produce. They were cut to size and trimmed with saws on the inside and outside. These stones were used from the foundation to the eaves, from the outside of the building all the way to the great courtyard.

All these [were of] costly stones, according to the measures of hewn stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation to the coping, and [so] on the outside towards the great court.

10 The foundations were laid with very large top-quality stones, between eight and ten cubits long.

And the foundation [was of] costly stones, even great stones; stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.

11 On these were placed top-quality stones, cut to size, along with cedar timber.

And above [were] costly stones, after the measures of hewn stones, and cedars.

12 Around the great courtyard, the inner courtyard, and the porch of the Lord's Temple were three courses of dressed stone and a course of cedar beams.

And the great court around [was] with three rows of hewn stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

13 King Solomon sent for Hiram from Tyre.

And king Solomon sent and brought Hiram out of Tyre.

14 He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was from Tyre, a craftsman who worked in bronze. Hiram had great expertise, understanding and being familiar with all kinds of bronze work. He came to King Solomon and carried out all that the king required.

He [was] a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father [was] a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and ingenious to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.

15 He cast two columns in bronze. They were both eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.

For he cast two pillars of brass, each of eighteen cubits high: and a line of twelve cubits did encompass each of them.

16 He also cast two capitals in bronze to place on top of the columns. Each capital was five cubits high.

And he made two capitals [of] molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the hight of the one capital [was] five cubits, and the hight of the other capital [was] five cubits:

17 He made a network of lattice of interlinked chains for both capitals, seven for each one.

[And] nets of checker-work, and wreaths of chain-work, for the capitals which [were] upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.

18 Around the lattice network he made two rows of ornamental pomegranates to cover the capitals on the top of both the columns.

And he made the pillars, and two rows around upon the one net-work, to cover the capitals that [were] upon the top, with pomegranates: and so he did for the other capital.

19 The capitals placed on top of columns in the porch were in the shape of lilies, four cubits high.

And the capitals that [were] upon the top of the pillars [were] of lily-work in the porch, four cubits.

20 On the capitals of both columns were the two hundred pomegranates in rows that encircled them, just above the rounded part that was next to the chain network.

And the capitals upon the two pillars [had pomegranates] also above, over against the belly which [was] by the net-work: and the pomegranates [were] two hundred in rows around upon the other capital.

21 He erected the columns at the entrance porch of the Temple. The southern column he named Jachin, and the northern column he named Boaz.

And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called its name Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called its name Boaz.

22 The capitals on the columns were in the shape of lilies. And so the work on the columns was finished.

And upon the top of the pillars [was] lily-work: so was the work of the pillars finished.

23 Then he made the Sea of cast metal. Its shape was circular, and measured ten cubits from edge to edge, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.

And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: [it was] entirely round, and its hight [was] five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits encompassed it.

24 Below the edge it was decorated with ornamental gourds that encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around. They were in two rows cast as one piece with the Sea.

And under the brim of it around [there were] knobs compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea around: the knobs [were] cast in two rows, when it was cast.

25 The Sea stood on twelve metal bulls. Three faced to the north, three to the west, three to the south, and three to the east. The Sea was placed on them, with their rears toward the center.

It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking towards the north, and three looking towards the west, and three looking towards the south, and three looking towards the east: and the sea [was set] above upon them, and all their hinder parts [were] inward.

26 It was as thick as the width of a hand, and its edge was like the flared edge of a cup or a lily flower. It held two thousand baths.

And it [was] a hand-breadth thick, and its brim was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.

27 He also made ten carts to carry basins. The carts measured four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high.

And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits [was] the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth of it, and three cubits the hight of it.

28 This is how they were put together: side panels were attached to uprights.

And the work of the bases [was] in this [manner]: They had borders, and the borders [were] between the ledges:

29 Both the side panels and the uprights were decorated with lions, bulls, and cherubim. Above and below the lions and the bulls were decorative wreaths.

And on the borders that [were] between the ledges [were] lions, oxen, and cherubim: and upon the ledges [there was] a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen [were] certain additions made of thin work.

30 Each cart had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. A basin rested on four supports that had decorative wreaths on each side.

And every base had four brazen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners of it had undersetters: under the laver [were] undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.

31 At the top of each cart was a round opening like a pedestal to hold the basin. The opening was one cubit deep, and one and a half cubits wide. The opening had carvings around it. The panels of the cart were square, not round.

And the mouth of it within the capital and above [was] a cubit: but the mouth of it [was] round [after] the work of the base, a cubit and a half: and also upon the mouth of it [were] gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.

32 The four wheels were under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the cart. Each wheel measured one and a half cubits in diameter.

And under the borders [were] four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels [were joined] to the base: and the hight of a wheel [was] a cubit and half a cubit.

33 The wheels were made in the same way as chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all made by casting.

And the work of the wheels [was] like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their fellies, and their spokes, [were] all molten.

34 Each cart had four handles, one on each corner, made as part of the stand.

And [there were] four undersetters to the four corners of one base: [and] the undersetters [were] of the very base itself.

35 There was a ring on the top of the cart a half cubit wide. The supports and panels were cast as one piece with the top of the cart.

And in the top of the base [was there] a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base its ledges and its borders [were] of the same.

36 He had designs of cherubim, lions, and palm trees engraved on the panels, supports, and frame, wherever there was space, with decorative wreaths all around.

For on the plates of its ledges, and on its borders, he graved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions around.

37 This is how he made the ten carts, with the same casts, size, and shape.

After this [manner] he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, [and] one size.

38 Then he made ten bronze basins. Each one held forty baths and measured four cubits across, one basin for each of the ten carts.

Then he made ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: [and] every laver was four cubits: [and] upon every one of the ten bases one laver.

39 He placed five carts on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. He placed the Sea on the south side, by the southeast corner of the Temple.

And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.

40 He also made the pots, shovels, and bowls. So Hiram finished making everything required by King Solomon for the Temple of the Lord:

And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he executed for king Solomon for the house of the LORD:

41 the two columns; the two capitals shaped like bowls on top the columns; the two chain networks that covered the bowls of the capitals on top of the columns;

The two pillars, and the [two] bowls of the capitals that [were] on the top of the two pillars; and the two net-works, to cover the two bowls of the capitals which [were] upon the top of the pillars;

42 the four hundred ornamental pomegranates for the chain networks (in two rows for the chain networks that covered the capitals on top of the columns);

And four hundred pomegranates for the two net-works, [even] two rows of pomegranates for one net-work, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that [were] upon the pillars;

43 the ten carts; the ten basins on the carts;

And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;

44 the Sea; the twelve bulls under the Sea;

And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;

45 and the pots, shovels, and bowls. Everything that Hiram made for King Solomon in the Temple of the Lord was made of polished bronze.

And the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: and all these vessels which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, [were of] bright brass.

46 The king had them cast in molds made of clay in the Jordan valley between Succoth and Zarethan.

In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.

47 Solomon did not weigh anything that had been made because there was just so much—the weight of bronze used could not be measured.

And Solomon left all the vessels [unweighed], because they were very numerous: neither was the weight of the brass ascertained.

48 Solomon also had made all the items for the Temple of the Lord: the golden altar; the golden table where the Bread of the Presence was placed;

And Solomon made all the vessels that [pertained] to the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, upon which [was] the show-bread,

49 the lampstands made of pure gold that stood in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right and five on the left; the flowers, lamps, and tongs that were all made of pure gold;

And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right [side], and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs [of] gold,

50 the basins, wick trimmers, bowls, ladles, and censers that again were all made of pure gold; and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place, in addition to the doors of the main hall of the Temple.

And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers [of] pure gold; and the hinges [of] gold, [both] for the doors of the inner house, the most holy [place], [and] for the doors of the house, [to wit], of the temple.

51 In this way all King Solomon's work for the Temple of the Lord was completed. Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated, the special objects made of silver, the gold, and the Temple furnishings, and he placed them in the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord.

So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; [even] the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, he placed among the treasures of the house of the LORD.