Solomon's Wisdom: Architecture

1 Now Hiram, king of Tyre, hearing that Solomon had been made king in place of his father, sent his servants to him; for Hiram had ever been a friend to David.

1 (a)(A)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 (B)Hiram had (b)always been a friend of David.

1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.

1 (a)Hiram king of Tyre(A) sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father’s place,(B) for Hiram had always been friends with David.(C)

1 King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he learned that Solomon had been anointed king to replace his father, because Hiram had been David's lifelong friend.

2 And Solomon sent back word to Hiram, saying,

2 Then (C)Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,

2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

2 Solomon sent this message to Hiram:

2 Solomon sent this message to Hiram:

3 You have knowledge that David my father was not able to make a house for the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars which were round him on every side, till the Lord put all those who were against him under his feet.

3 “You know that (D)David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.

3 “You know my father David was not able to build a temple for the name of Yahweh his God. This was because of the warfare all around him until the Lord put his enemies under his feet.(D)

3 "You know that my father David was unable to build a temple dedicated to the LORD his God because he was busy fighting wars all around him until the LORD defeated his enemies.

4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; no one is making trouble, and no evil is taking place.

4 But now (E)the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor (c)misfortune.

4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

4 The Lord my God has now given me rest all around; there is no enemy or crisis.(E)

4 But now the LORD has given me rest all around, since I have neither foreign adversaries nor domestic crises.

5 And so it is my purpose to make a house for the name of the Lord my God, as he said to David my father, Your son, whom I will make king in your place, will be the builder of a house for my name.

5 Behold, (F)I (d)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, he will build the house for My name.’

5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.

5 So I plan to build a temple for the name of Yahweh my God,(F) according to what the Lord promised my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the temple for My name.’(G)

5 So now I'm planning to build a temple dedicated to the LORD my God, just as the LORD told my father when he said, "Your son, whom I will set on your throne to replace you, will build the Temple dedicated to me.'

6 So now, will you have cedar-trees from Lebanon cut down for me, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you payment for your servants at whatever rate you say; for it is common knowledge that we have no such wood-cutters among us as the men of Zidon.

6 Now therefore, command that they cut for me (G)cedars from Lebanon, and 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 no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

6 Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.

6 “Therefore, command that cedars from Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants’ wages according to whatever you say, for you know that not a man among us knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”(H)

6 Now therefore please order that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, because you know there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians do."

7 And these words of Solomon made Hiram glad, and he said, Now may the Lord be praised who has given to David a wise son to be king over this great people.

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

7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.

7 When Hiram heard Solomon’s words, he greatly rejoiced and said, “May the Lord be praised today!(I) He has given David a wise son to be over this great people!”

7 As soon as Hiram received the message from Solomon, he became so ecstatic that he exclaimed, "Blessed be the LORD today, who has given David a wise son to rule this great people!" Then he sent this message to Solomon:

8 Then Hiram sent to Solomon, saying; The words you sent have been given to me: I will do all your desire in the question of cedar-wood and cypress-wood.

8 So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent me; I will do (e)what you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber.

8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.

8 Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying, “I have heard your message; I will do everything you want regarding the cedar and cypress timber.

8 "I have read the letter that you sent me. I'll do what you've asked about the cedar and cypress timber.

9 My men will take them down from Lebanon to the sea, where I will have them corded together to go by sea to whatever place you say, and I will have them cut up there so that you may take them away; as for payment, it will be enough if you give me food for my people.

9 My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea (H)to the place where you (f)direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then (I)you shall accomplish my desire by giving food to my household.”

9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

9 My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place you indicate. I will break them apart there, and you can take them away. You then can meet my needs by providing my household with food.”(J)

9 My servants will transport them from Lebanon to the sea, where we'll make them into rafts and float them by sea to the port that you tell me to send them. We'll have them prepared for transport there and then you can carry them from there. You can meet my needs by providing provisions for my household."

10 So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar-wood and cypress-wood he had need of;

10 So (g)Hiram (h)gave Solomon (i)as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber.

10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.

10 So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted,

10 That's how Hiram came to provide Solomon as much cedar and cypress timber as he needed.

11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of grain, as food for his people, and twenty measures of clear oil; this he did every year.

11 (J)Solomon then gave Hiram 20,000 (j)kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty (k)kors of beaten oil; thus Solomon would give Hiram year by year.

11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

11 and Solomon provided Hiram with 100,000 bushels(b) of wheat as food for his household and 110,000 gallons(c) of oil from crushed olives.(K) Solomon did this for Hiram year after year.

11 In return, Solomon paid Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of beaten oil. Solomon provided this amount every year during the construction.

12 Now the Lord had given Solomon wisdom, as he had said to him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they made an agreement together.

12 (K)The Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He (l)promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.

12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

12 The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him.(L) There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.(M)

12 The LORD continued giving Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised, and Hiram and Solomon entered into a peace treaty between themselves.

Solomon's Work Force

13 Then King Solomon got together men for the forced work through all Israel, thirty thousand men in number;

13 Now (L)King Solomon (m)levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers (n)numbered 30,000 men.

13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

13 Then King Solomon drafted forced laborers from all Israel;(N) the labor force numbered 30,000 men.

13 King Solomon conscripted laborers from throughout Israel. The work force numbered 30,000 men.

14 And sent them to Lebanon in bands of ten thousand every month: for a month they were working in Lebanon and for two months in their country, and Adoniram was in control of them.

14 He sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in relays; they were in Lebanon a month and two months at home. And (M)Adoniram was over the forced laborers.

14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.

14 He sent 10,000 to Lebanon each month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon, two months they were at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.

14 He sent 10,000 men to Lebanon in shifts lasting one month. They worked one month in Lebanon for every two months they worked at home. Adoniram was placed in charge of the conscripted labor.

15 Then he had seventy thousand for the work of transport, and eighty thousand stone-cutters in the mountains;

15 Now (N)Solomon had 70,000 (o)transporters, and 80,000 hewers of stone in the mountains,

15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

15 Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains,(O)

15 Solomon also employed 70,000 heavy-lift workers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country.

16 In addition to the chiefs of the responsible men put by Solomon to oversee the work, three thousand and three hundred in authority over the workmen.

16 (O)besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were over the (p)project and who ruled over the people who were doing the work.

16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

16 not including his 3,300(d) deputies(P) in charge of the work. They ruled over the people doing the work.

16 Solomon also employed 3,300 officials to supervise the work and to manage the people employed in the construction.

17 By the king's orders great stones, stones of high price, were cut out, so that the base of the house might be made of squared stone.

17 Then (P)the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones.

17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

17 The king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.(Q)

17 The king specified that large, expensive stones be quarried so the foundation of the Temple could be laid with cut stones.

18 Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did the work of cutting them, and put edges on them, and got the wood and the stone ready for the building of the house.

18 So Solomon’s builders and (q)Hiram’s builders and (Q)the Gebalites (r)cut them, and prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.

18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

18 So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders,(R) along with the Gebalites,(S) quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the temple’s construction.

18 As a result, Solomon's builders worked with Hiram's builders, accompanied by the Gebalites, to quarry the stone and to prepare the timber and other stone for the Temple's construction.

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

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