Bible in a Year.

On day 146, 1 Kings 4 shows how Solomon administered the kingdom with wisdom and order, ensuring prosperity and justice. 2 Chronicles 6 presents the prayer of dedication for the temple, invoking God's presence and His blessings. Psalm 65 invites worship and gratitude for the wonders of creation and divine providence.

1. And king Solomon reigned over all Israel:

2. And these were the princes which he had: Azarias the son of Sadoc the priest:

3. Elihoreph, and Ahia, the sons of Sisa, scribes: Josaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder:

4. Banaias the son of Joiada, over the army: and Sadoc and Abiathar priests.

5. Azarias the son of Nathan, over them that were about the king: Zabud, the son of Nathan the priest, the king's friend:

6. And Ahisar governor of the house: and Adoniram the son of Abda over the tribute.

7. And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and for his household: for every one provided necessaries, each man his month in the year.

8. And these are their names: Benhur, in mount Ephraim,

9. Bendecar, in Macces, and in Salebim, and in Bethsames, and in Elon, and in Bethanan.

10. Benhesed in Aruboth: his was Socho, and all the land of Epher.

11. 11Benabinadab, to whom belonged all Nephath-Dor, he had Tapheth the daughter of Solomon to wife.

12. Bana the son of Ahilud, who governed Thanac and Mageddo, and all Bethsan, which is by Sarthana beneath Jezrael, from Bethsan unto Abelmehula over against Jecmaan.

13. Bengaber in Ramoth Galaad: he had the towns of Jair the son of Manasses in Galaad, he was chief in all the country of Argob, which is in Basan, threescore great cities with walls, and brazen bolts.

14. Abinadab the son of Addo was chief in Manaim.

15. Achimaas in Nephtali: he also had Basemath the daughter of Solomon to wife.

16. Baana the son of Husi, in Aser and in Baloth.

17. Josaphat the son of Pharue, in Issachar.

18. Semei the son of Ela in Benjamin.

19. Gaber the son of Uri, in the land of Galaad, in the land of Sehon the king of the Amorrhites and of Og the king of Basan, over all that were in that land.

20. Juda and Israel were innumerable, as the sand of the sea in multitude: eating and drinking, and rejoicing.

21. And Solomon had under him all the kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines,. even to the border of Egypt: and they brought him presents, and served him, all the days of his life.

22. And the provision of Solomon for each day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

23. Ten fat oxen and twenty out of the pastures, and a hundred rams, besides venison of harts, roes, and buffles, and fatted fowls.

24. For he had all the country which was beyond the river, from Thaphsa to Gazan, and all the kings of those countries: and he had peace on every side round about.

25. And Juda and Israel dwelt without any fear, every one under his vine, and under his fig tree, from Dan to Bersabee, all the days of Solomon.

26. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thou- sand for the saddle.

27. And the foresaid governors of the king fed them: and they furnished the necessaries also for king Solomon's table, with great care in their time.

28. They brought barley also and straw for the horses, and beasts, to the place where the king was, according as it was appointed them.

29. And God gave to Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart as the sand that is on the sea shore.

30. And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the Orientals, and of the Egyptians,

31. And he was wiser than all men: wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Dorda the sons of Mahol, and he was renowned in all nations round about.

32. Solomon also spoke three thousand parables: and his poems were a thousand and five.

33. And he treated about trees from the cedar that is in Libanus, unto the hyssop that cometh out of the wall: and he discoursed of beasts, and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

34. And they came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who heard of his wisdom.

1. Then Solomon said: The Lord promised that he would dwell in a cloud.

2. But I have built a house to his name, that he might dwell there for ever.

3. And the king turned his face, and blessed all the multitude of Israel (for all the multitude stood attentive) and he said:

4. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who hath accomplished in deed that which he spoke to David my father, saying:

5. From the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel, for a house to be built in it to my name: neither chose I any other man, to be the ruler of my people Israel.

6. But I chose Jerusalem, that my name might be there: and I chose David to set him over my people Israel.

7. And whereas David my father had a mind to build a house to the name of the Lord the God of Israel,

8. The Lord said to him: Forasmuch as it was thy will to build a house to my name, thou hast done well indeed in having such a will:

9. But thou shalt not build the house, but thy son, who shall come out of thy loins, he shall build a house to my name.

10. The Lord therefore hath accomplished his word which he spoke: and I am risen up in the place of David my father, and sit upon the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised : and have built a house to the name of the Lord God of Israel.

11. And I have put in it the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which he made with the children of Israel.

12. And he stood before the altar of the I Lord, in presence of all the multitude of Israel, and stretched forth his hands.

13. For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, and had set it in the midst of the temple, which was five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high: and he stood upon it: then kneeling down in the presence of all the multitude of Israel, and lifting up his hands towards heaven,

14. He said: O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven nor in earth: who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:

15. Who hast performed to thy servant David my father all that thou hast promised him: and hast accomplished in fact, what thou hast spoken with thy mouth, as also the present time proveth.

16. Now then, O Lord God of Israel, fulfil to thy servant David my father, whatsoever thou hast promised him, saying: There shall not fail thee a man in my sight, to sit upon the throne of Israel: yet so that thy children take heed to their ways, and walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

17. And now, Lord God of Israel, let thy word be established which thou hast spoken to thy servant David.

18. Is it credible then that God should dwell with men on the earth? If heaven and the heavens of heavens do not contain thee, how much less this house, which I have built?

19. But to this end only it is made, that thou mayest regard the prayer of thy servant and his supplication, O Lord my God: and mayest hear the prayers which thy servant poureth out before thee.

20. That thou mayest open thy eyes upon this house day and night, upon the place wherein thou hast promised that thy name should be called upon,

21. And that thou wouldst hear the prayer which thy servant prayeth in it: hearken then to the prayers of thy servant, and of thy people Israel. Whosoever shall pray in this place, hear thou from thy dwelling place, that is, from heaven, and shew mercy.

22. If any man sin against his neighbour, and come to swear against him, and bind himself with a curse before the altar in this house:

23. Then hear thou from heaven, and do justice to thy servants, so as to requite the wicked by making his wickedness fall upon his own head, and to revenge the just, rewarding him according to his justice.

24. If thy people Israel be overcome by their enemies, (for they will sin against thee,) and being converted shall do penance, and call upon thy name, and pray to thee in this place,

25. Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them back into the land, which thou gavest to them, and their fathers.

26. If the heavens be shut up, and there fall no rain by reason of the sine of the people, and they shall pray to thee in this place, and confess to thy name, and be converted from their sins, when thou dost afflict them,

27. Then hear thou from heaven, O Lord, and forgive the sine of thy servants and of thy people Israel, and teach them the good way, in which they may walk: and give rain to thy land which thou hast given to thy people to possess.

28. If a famine arise in the land, or a pestilence or blasting, or mildew, or locusts, or caterpillars: or if their enemies waste the country, and besiege the cities, whatsoever scourge or infirmity shall be upon them:

29. Then if any of thy people Israel, knowing his own scourge and infirmity shall pray, and shall spread forth his hands in this house,

30. Hear thou from heaven, from thy high dwelling place, and forgive, and render to every one according to his ways, which thou knowest him to have in his heart: (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)

31. That they may fear thee, and walk in thy ways all the days that they live upon the face of the land, which thou hast given to our fathers.

32. If the stranger also, who is not of thy people Israel, come from a far country, for the sake of thy great name, and thy strong hand, and thy stretched out arm, and adore in this place:

33. Hear thou from heaven thy firm dwelling place, and do all that which that stranger shall call upon thee for: that all the people of the earth may know thy name, and may fear thee, as thy people Israel, and may know, that thy name is invoked upon this house, which I have built.

34. If thy people go out to war against their enemies, by the way that thou shalt send them, and adore thee towards the way of this city, which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built to thy name:

35. Then hear thou from heaven their prayers, and their supplications, and revenge them.

36. And if they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them up to their enemies, and they lead them away captive to a land either afar off, or near at hand,

37. And if they be converted in their heart in the land to which they were led / captive, and do penance, and pray to thee in the land of their captivity, saying: We have sinned, we have done wickedly, we have dealt unjustly:

38. And return to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, to which they were led away, and adore thee towards the way of their own land which thou gavest their fathers, and of the city, which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built to thy name:

39. Then hear thou from heaven, that is, from thy firm dwelling place, their prayers, and do judgment, and forgive thy people, although they have sinned:

40. For thou art my God: let thy eyes, I beseech thee, be open, and let thy ears be attentive to the prayer, that is made in this place.

41. Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place, thou and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, put on salvation, and thy saints rejoice in good things.

42. O Lord God, turn not away the face of thy anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

1. To the end, a psalm of David. The canticle of Jeremias and Ezechiel to the people of the captivity, when they began to go out.

2. A Hymn, O God, becometh thee in Sion: and a vow shall be paid to thee in Jerusalem.

3. O hear my prayer: all flesh shall come to thee.

4. The words of the wicked have prevailed over us: and thou wilt pardon our transgressions.

5. Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and taken to thee: he shall dwell in thy courts. We shall be filled with the good things of thy house; holy is thy temple,

6. wonderful in justice. Hear us, O God our saviour, who art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and in the sea afar off.

7. Thou who preparest the mountains by thy strength, being girded with power:

8. who troublest the depth of the sea, the noise of its waves. The Gentiles shall be troubled,

9. and they that dwell in the uttermost borders shall be afraid at thy signs: thou shalt make the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to be joyful.

10. Thou hast visited the earth, and hast plentifully watered it; thou hast many ways enriched it. The river of God is filled with water, thou hast prepared their food: for so is its preparation.

11. Fill up plentifully the streams thereof, multiply its fruits; it shall spring up and rejoice in its showers.

12. Thou shalt bless the crown of the year of thy goodness: and thy fields shall be filled with plenty.

13. The beautiful places of the wilderness shall grow fat: and the hills shall be girded about with joy,

14. The rams of the flock are clothed, and the vales shall abound with corn: they shall shout, yea they shall sing a hymn.