Hiram

11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

Hiram was the king of Tyre, a city by the sea. He sent men to David with cedar logs, woodworkers, and stone workers. They built a fine house for David.

12And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

David understood that the LORD had truly made him king over Israel. He saw that God had made his kingdom great for the good of God's people Israel.

1And 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.

Hiram was the king of a city called Tyre. He heard that Solomon was now king in place of his father. So Hiram sent his servants to Solomon. Hiram had always been a good friend of King David.

2And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

Then Solomon sent a message back to Hiram. This is what he said:

3Thou 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.

"You know that my father David could not build a house for the LORD his God. Enemies fought him on every side. He had to fight wars until the LORD gave him the win over them all."

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

"But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side. No enemy is fighting me. Nothing bad is happening."

5And, 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.

"So I plan to build a house for the LORD my God. The LORD told my father David this: 'I will put your son on your throne after you. He will build the house for my name.'"

6Now 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.

"So please give the order to cut cedar trees for me in Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants. I will pay your workers whatever you ask. Your men from Sidon know how to cut wood better than any of ours."

7And 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.

When Hiram heard Solomon's words, he was very glad. He said, "Praise the LORD today! He has given David a wise son to lead these many people."

8And 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.

Hiram sent an answer to Solomon. He said, "I have read your message. I will do everything you asked. I will send you cedar wood and fir wood."

9My 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.

"My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea. I will tie them together and float them to any place you choose. There I will take them apart, and you can carry them away. In return, please send food for the people in my house."

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

So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar wood and fir wood he wanted.

11And 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.

Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for his household. He also gave him twenty measures of pure olive oil. Solomon sent this to Hiram every year.

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

The LORD made Solomon wise, just as he had promised. Hiram and Solomon lived in peace with each other. The two kings made an agreement together.

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

Then King Solomon called men from all over Israel to work for him. There were thirty thousand of these workers.

14And 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.

He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand men each month, taking turns. Each man worked one month, then stayed home two months. A man named Adoniram was in charge of all these workers.

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

Solomon had seventy thousand men who carried heavy loads. He had eighty thousand more men who cut stone in the hills.

16Beside 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.

He also had three thousand three hundred head workers. They watched over the men and told them what to do.

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

The king gave an order, and the men dug out huge stones. These stones cost a lot. Workers cut them smooth and square for the bottom of the house.

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

Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders shaped these stones. Men from the town of Gebal helped them too. Together they got the wood and stone ready to build the house.

10And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king’s house,

Twenty years went by while Solomon built the two buildings. One was the temple, God's house. The other was his own palace.

11(Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.

Hiram, the king of Tyre, had helped Solomon a lot. He sent cedar wood, pine wood, and gold, as much as Solomon wanted. So Solomon gave Hiram twenty towns in the land of Galilee.

12And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.

Hiram left Tyre to go look at the towns Solomon gave him. He did not like them.

13And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.

He said, "What kind of towns are these, my brother?" He named that area the land of Cabul. People still call it that.

14And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.

Hiram had sent the king one hundred twenty talents of gold.

26And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.

King Solomon also built a group of ships at a place called Ezion-geber. It is near Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.

27And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.

Hiram sent his own men to sail with those ships. They knew the sea well. They worked with Solomon's men.

28And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.

They sailed to a place called Ophir. They brought back four hundred twenty talents of gold and gave it to King Solomon.

11And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.

King Hiram's ships brought gold from a place called Ophir. They also brought lots of almug wood and beautiful stones from there.

12And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.

The king used the almug wood to make steps for the LORD's house and his own palace. He also made harps and other music instruments for the singers. Wood like that never came again, and no one has seen it since.

1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.

Hiram was the king of Tyre, a city near the sea. He sent men to David with cedar logs. He also sent workers who cut stone and workers who built with wood. They came to build a palace for David.

2And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.

David knew that the LORD had made him king over Israel for sure. God had made his kingdom great. God did this because he loved his people Israel.

3And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.

Solomon sent a message to Huram, the king of Tyre. He said, "You helped my father David. You sent him cedar logs to build his house. Please help me the same way.

4Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.

I am going to build a house for the LORD my God. It will be set apart just for him. There we will burn sweet-smelling incense before him. There we will always keep the special bread on the table. We will give burnt offerings every morning and evening. We will do it on Sabbath days, on new moon days, and at the feasts God chose. God told Israel to do this always.

5And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.

The house I build will be great. Our God is greater than all other gods.

6But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

But no one can really build a house for him. Even the highest heavens are too small to hold him. So who am I to build him a house? I can only build a place to burn offerings to him.

7Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.

So please send me a man with great skill. He must know how to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. He must know how to work with purple, red, and blue yarn. He must know how to carve. He will work with my own skilled men in Judah and Jerusalem. My father David found those men.

8Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,

Please send me cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon. I know your workers are good at cutting trees there. My workers will help your workers.

9Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.

They will get me plenty of wood. The house I am building will be very large and fine.

10And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.

I will pay your woodcutters well. I will give them 20,000 measures of ground wheat. I will give them 20,000 measures of barley. I will give them 20,000 baths of wine and 20,000 baths of olive oil."

11Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.

Then Huram, the king of Tyre, wrote back to Solomon. He said, "The LORD loves his people. That is why he made you their king."

12Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

Huram also said, "Praise the LORD, the God of Israel! He made the heavens and the earth. He gave King David a wise son. This son is smart and careful. He will build a house for the LORD and a palace for himself.

13And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,

So I am sending you a very skilled man. His name is Huram-abi. He is clever and full of good ideas.

14The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.

His mother came from the tribe of Dan. His father was a man from Tyre. He knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. He can work with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and red yarn, and fine linen. He can carve any kind of design. He can make anything you ask him to make. He will work with your skilled men and with the men of your father David.

15Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:

So please send your servants the wheat, barley, oil, and wine you promised.

16And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.

We will cut all the wood you need from Lebanon. We will tie the logs together and float them by sea to Joppa. Then you can carry them up to Jerusalem."