Melachim I - Chapter 5

1. And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt, they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

2. And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal.

3. Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, besides harts, and deer, and fallow deer, and fatted fowl.

4. For he had dominion over all (the inhabitants) on this side of the river, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side of the river, and he had peace on all sides around.

5. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.

6. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

7. And these officers provided victuals for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man (in) his month, they lacked nothing.

8. And the barley and the straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where he would be there, every man according to his charge.

9. And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceedingly much, and largeness of heart, as the sand that (is) on the seashore.

10. And Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

11. And he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the nations round about.

12. And he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five.

13. And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that (is) in Lebanon and to the hyssop that springs out of the wall, and he spoke of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of the creeping things, and of the fishes.

14. And they came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard his wisdom.

15. And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram was ever a lover of David.

16. And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying.

17. You knew my father, David, that he could not 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.

18. And now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, (there is) neither adversary nor evil occurrence.

19. And, behold, I purpose 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 upon your throne in your place, he shall build a house for My name.'

20. And now, command that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon, and my servants shall be with your servants, and I will give you hire for your servants according to all that you shall say, for you know that (there is) not among us any who is skilled to hew timber like the Zidonians.

21. And it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people."

22. And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard that which you have sent me, I will do all your desires concerning cedar wood, and concerning cypress wood.

23. My servants shall bring (them) down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts (to go) by the sea to the place that you shall send me, and will separate them there, and you will transport (them), and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

24. And Hiram gave Solomon cedar wood and cypress wood (according to) all his desire.

25. And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat (for) food to his household, and twenty measures of beaten oil, thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

26. And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they both made a league together.

27. And King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel, and the levy was thirty thousand men.

28. And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month alternately, a month they were in Lebanon, (and) two months at home, and Adoniram (was) over the levy.

29. And Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand hewers in the mountains.

30. Besides Solomon's chief officers that were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bore rule over the people that wrought in the work.

31. And the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, heavy stones, to lay the foundation of the house (with) hewn stone.

32. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites did hew (them), and they prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.