1 Kings, 5

1. Solomon was overlord of all the kingdoms from the River to the territory of the Philistines and the Egyptian border. They brought tribute and served him all his life long.

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

2. The daily provisions for Solomon were: thirty measures of fine flour and sixty measures of meal,

2. And Solomon sent word to Hiram,

3. ten fattened oxen, twenty free-grazing oxen, one hundred sheep, besides deer and gazelles, roebucks and fattened poultry.

3. "You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.

4. For he was master of all Transeuphrates -- of all the kings of Transeuphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza -- and he enjoyed peace on all his frontiers.

4. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.

5. Judah and Israel lived in security, everyone under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, throughout the lifetime of Solomon.

5. And so I purpose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, `Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.'

6. And Solomon had four thousand stalls of horses for his chariots and twelve thousand cavalrymen.

6. Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me; and my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set; for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sido'nians."

7. These administrators provided the food for Solomon and for all those who were admitted by him to the royal table, each for the period of a month; they ensured that nothing was wanting.

7. When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people."

8. They also provided the barley and straw for the horses and draught animals, where required, each according to the quota demanded of him.

8. And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message which you have sent to me; I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber.

9. God gave Solomon immense wisdom and understanding, and a heart as vast as the sand on the sea-shore.

9. My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon; and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct, and I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it; and you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household."

10. The wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.

10. So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired,

11. He was wiser than anyone else, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, than the sons of Mahol, Heman, Calcol and Darda; his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.

11. while Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty thousand cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.

12. He composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.

12. And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and the two of them made a treaty.

13. He could discourse on plants from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing on the wall; and he could discourse on animals and birds and reptiles and fish.

13. King Solomon raised a levy of forced labor out of all Israel; and the levy numbered thirty thousand men.

14. Men from all nations came to hear Solomon's wisdom, and he received gifts from all the kings in the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

14. And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in relays; they would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home; Adoni'ram was in charge of the levy.

15. Hiram king of Tyre sent an embassy to Solomon, having learnt that he had been anointed king in succession to his father and because Hiram had always been a friend of David.

15. Solomon also had seventy thousand burden-bearers and eighty thousand hewers of stone in the hill country,

16. And Solomon sent this message to Hiram,

16. besides Solomon's three thousand three hundred chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work.

17. 'You are aware that my father David was unable to build a temple for the name of Yahweh his God, on account of the wars waged on him from every side, until Yahweh put his enemies under the soles of his feet.

17. At the king's command, they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.

18. But now Yahweh my God has given me peace on every side: not one enemy, no calamities.

18. So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal did the hewing and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.

19. I propose, then, to build a temple for the name of Yahweh my God, in accordance with what Yahweh told my father David, "Your son whom I shall place on your throne to succeed you will be the man to build a temple for my name."

19.

20. So now have cedars of Lebanon cut down for me; my servants will work with your servants, and I shall pay for the hire of your servants at whatever rate you fix. As you know, we have no one as skilled in felling trees as the Sidonians.'

20.

21. When Hiram heard what Solomon had said, he was delighted. 'Now blessed be Yahweh,' he said, 'who has given David a wise son to rule over this great people!'

21.

22. And Hiram sent word to Solomon, 'I have received your message. For my part, I shall supply you with all you require in the way of cedar wood and juniper.

22.

23. Your servants will bring these down from Lebanon to the sea, and I shall have them towed by sea to any place you name; I shall discharge them there, and you will take them over. For your part, you will see to the provisioning of my household as I desire.'

23.

24. So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar wood and juniper he wanted

24.

25. while Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kor of wheat to feed his household, and twenty thousand kor of pure oil. Solomon gave Hiram this every year.

25.

26. Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom as he had promised him; good relations persisted between Solomon and Hiram, and the two of them concluded a treaty.

26.

27. King Solomon raised a levy throughout Israel for forced labour: the levy numbered thirty thousand men.

27.

28. He sent these to Lebanon in relays, ten thousand a month; they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoram was in charge of the forced labour.

28.

29. Solomon also had seventy thousand porters and eighty thousand quarrymen in the mountains,

29.

30. as well as the administrators, officials who supervised the work, three thousand three hundred of them in charge of the men employed in the work.

30.

31. At the king's orders they quarried huge stones, special stones for the laying of the temple foundations, dressed stones.

31.

32. Solomon's workmen and Hiram's workmen and the Giblites cut and assembled the wood and stone for the building of the Temple.

32.