12 Then Shelomoh stood in front of the altar to Yahweh in front of all the assembled Israelis, and spread out his hands 13 because he’d made a bronze platform and had it placed in the centre of the courtyard. The square platform was just over two metres on each side, and stood just over a metre off the ground. Firstly he stood on it, then he knelt down onto his knees in front of all the assembled Israelis and spread his hands out to the sky 14 and said, “Yahweh, God of Yisrael, there isn’t any god like you in the heavens or on the earth—one who keeps his agreement and shows loyal commitment to your servants who are walking with total integrity as you watch them. 15 Everything you verbally told my father David that you’d do, you’ve used your power to make it all happen, including this today. 16 And now, Yahweh, God of Yisrael, keep something else for your servant David my father when you told him, ‘There’ll always be one of your descendants sitting on Yisrael’s throne, as long as they obey my instructions just like you have.’[ref] 17 So now, Yahweh, God of Yisrael, let what you said to your servant, to David, be confirmed.

18 “But will God really live with humans here on the earth? Wow, the skies and the heavens of the heavens can’t contain you—how much less this house that I’ve built.[ref] 19 Nevertheless Yahweh my god, listen to your servant’s prayer and request and take notice. 20 Watch over this building where you said that you’d be present and hear my prayers when your servant prays towards this place.[ref] 21 Listen to what your servant and your Israeli people are requesting when they pray towards this place. Listen from where you live in the heavens, and hear and forgive.

22 “If someone is accused of wronging their neighbour and is forced to make a sworn statement in front of your altar in this temple, 23 then listen from the heavens and decide who’s telling the truth. Then punish the guilty party as they deserve, and do good to the other side as a reward for their innocence.

24 “And if your Israeli people are defeated by their enemies because they’ve disobeyed you, but they return to you and confess, and pray, and in this place they request your favour, 25 then listen to them from the heavens and forgive the disobedience of your Israeli people, and bring them back to this land that you gave to their ancestors and to them.

26 “When the clouds hold back and give no rain because they’ve disobeyed you, but then they pray towards this place and acknowledge you and turn away from their disobedience because you’ve punished them, 27 then listen to them from the heavens and forgive the disobedience of your servants and your Israeli people. Teach them the right way to live their lives, and give rain to your land which you gave your people as a permanent inheritance.

28 “If this land suffers from famine, or if there’s blight or mildew, or locusts or grasshoppers, plague or sickness, or if an enemy army surrounds them, 29 then if any person or all your Israeli people stretch out their hands towards this temple with their prayers and requests because they each acknowledge their individual pain and suffering, 30 then listen to them from your where you live there in the heavens and forgive them. Reward each person according to their behaviour, because you know people’s motives—only you know what’s in people’s minds. 31 Do that so they’ll respect you and living how you want them to, as they live in this country that you gave to our ancestors.

32 “Also, any foreigners who don’t belong to your Israeli people, who come to this land because they’ve heard that you’re very great and powerful, if they turn toward this temple and pray 33 then listen to them as well from where you live there in the heavens. Do whatever that foreigner requests from you and that all the people groups in the world will learn about your reputation, and honour and obey you like your Israeli people do, and to know that this temple that I’ve built is called by your name.

34 “When you send your people off to battle their enemies, and they pray towards this city that you’ve chosen and this temple that I’ve had built to honour your name, 35 then listen from the heavens to their prayer and their requests, and uphold their cause.

36 “When they disobey you (and there’s no one who doesn’t), and you’re angry with them and allow an enemy to get the upper hand, and their captors takes them a distant or nearby land as captives, 37 and then in that land where they’re captives, they turn and admit their wickedness and their disobedience, and request your favour, 38 and they turn to you with total sincerity in that other country and pray towards the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city that you chose, and toward the temple that I’ve built to honour your name, 39 then listen from where you live in the heavens to their prayer and their requests, and uphold their cause and forgive your people who’ve disobeyed you.

40 “Now my god, please let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to prayers offered towards this place.

41 “So now Yahweh God, along with the sacred box of your strength, come and enter your resting place. Yahweh God, may your priests be dressed in salvation, and your faithful ones enjoy your goodness.[ref] 42 Yahweh God, don’t ignore those who you’ve chosen. Remember the loyal commitment of your servant David.”