I Kings 5

¹Hiram, the king of Tyre, also sent his servants to Solomon. For he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father. Now Hiram had been a friend to David the entire time.

²Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

³“You know the will of my father David, and that he was not able to build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars that were imminent all around him, until the Lord set them under the steps of his feet.

⁴But now the Lord my God has given rest to me on all sides. And there is no adversary, nor occurrence of evil.

⁵For this reason, I intend to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, just as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying: ‘Your son, whom I will set in your place, upon your throne, he himself shall build a house to my name.’

⁶Therefore, order that your servants may cut down for me cedars from Lebanon. And let my servants be with your servants. Then I will give to you, for the wages of your servants, whatever you will ask. For you know that there is not a man among my people who knows how to cut wood as well as the Sidonians.”

⁷Therefore, when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and he said, “Blessed be the Lord God this day, who gave to David a very wise son over this numerous people!”

⁸And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: “I have heard the things that you would entrust to me. And I will do your whole will concerning the cedar trees and spruce trees.

⁹My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. And I will arrange them together as rafts on the sea, as far as the place that you will indicate to me. And I will land them there, and you will take them. And you shall offer to me what is necessary to give food to my house.”

¹⁰And so, Hiram gave to Solomon cedar trees and spruce trees, in accord with his whole will.

¹¹Then Solomon offered to Hiram twenty thousand cor of wheat, as food for his house, and twenty cor of the purest oil. These things Solomon gave as a tribute to Hiram every year.

¹²And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he said to him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two struck a pact.

¹³And king Solomon chose workers from all of Israel, and the conscription was of thirty thousand men.

¹⁴And he sent them into Lebanon, ten thousand each month, in turns, so that for two months they were in their own houses. And Adoniram was over this type of conscription.

¹⁵And Solomon had seventy thousand of those who were carrying burdens, and eighty thousand of those who cut stones from the mountain,

¹⁶aside from the commanders who were over each work, in number three thousand and three hundred, who gave orders to the people and to those who were doing the work.

¹⁷And the king ordered them to bring great stones, precious stones, for the foundation of the temple, and to square them.

¹⁸And these were shaped by the stoneworkers of Solomon and the stoneworkers of Hiram. And the men of Gebal also prepared the wood and the stones in order to build the house.

I Kings 5

¹And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon: for he heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram had always been David's friend.

²Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

³Thou knowest the will of David, my father, and that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars that were round about him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

⁴But now the Lord my God hath given me rest round about; and there is no adversary nor evil occurrence.

⁵Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom I will set upon the throne, in thy place, he shall build a house to my name.

⁶Give orders, therefore, that thy servants cut me down cedar trees, out of Libanus, and let my servants be with thy servants: and I will give thee the hire of thy servants whatsoever thou wilt ask: for thou knowest how there is not among my people a man that has skill to hew wood like to the Sidonians.

⁷Now when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced exceedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath given to David a very wise son over this numerous people.

⁸And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have heard all thou hast desired of me; and I will do all thy desire concerning cedar trees, and fir trees.

⁹My servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea: and I will put them together in floats, on the sea, and convey them to the place, which thou shalt signify to me, and will land them there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt allow me necessaries to furnish food for my household.

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

¹¹And Solomon allowed Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat, for provision for his house, and twenty measures of the purest oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram every year.

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

¹³And king Solomon chose workmen out of all Israel, and the levy was of thirty thousand men.

¹⁴And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand every month, by turns, so that two months they were at home: and Adoniram was over this levy.

¹⁵And Solomon had seventy thousand to carry burdens, and eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountain:

¹⁶Besides the overseers who were over every work, in number three thousand and three hundred, that ruled over the people, and them that did the work.

¹⁷And the king commanded that they should bring great stones, costly stones, for the foundation of the temple, and should square them:

¹⁸And the masons of Solomon, and the masons of Hiram, hewed them: and the Giblians prepared timber and stones to build the house.