1 Kings 5
1 When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father, he sent ambassadors to Solomon because Hiram had always been David's friend.
And Hiram King of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon, for he had heard that, him, had they anointed king, in the room of his father, —for, Hiram, was, a lover, of, David continually.
2 So Solomon sent this message back to Hiram,
So Solomon sent unto Hiram, saying: —
3 “As you know, my father David was not able to build a Temple to honor the Lord his God because of the wars fought against him from every direction, until the Lord had conquered his enemies.
Thou, knewest David my father, how that he could not build a house unto the Name of Yahweh his God, because of the wars that were about him on every side, —until Yahweh should put them under the soles of his feet;
4 But now the Lord my God has given me peace all around—no enemies, no bad things happening.
but, now, Yahweh my God hath given me rest on every side, —there is neither adversary nor incident of evil.
5 So I plan to build a Temple to honor the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David. He said to him, ‘Your son whom I will place on your throne to succeed you will build the Temple to honor me.’
Behold me! then, purposing to build a house for the Name of Yahweh my God—even as Yahweh spake unto David my father, saying—Thy son, whom I will set in thy stead, upon thy throne, he, shall build the house for my Name.
6 So please order some cedars of Lebanon to be cut down for me. My workers will assist your workers, and I will pay your workers at the rate that you decide, for you know that we don't have anyone who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
Now, therefore, command thou that they fell me cedars, out of Lebanon, and, my servants, shall be, with thy servants, and, the hire of thy servants, will I give thee, according to all that thou shalt say, —for, thou, knowest, that, none amongst us, hath skill to fell timber, like the Zidonians.
7 When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was very happy and said, “Praise the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to lead this great nation!”
And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, —and said: Blessed, be Yahweh, to-day, who hath given unto David a wise son, over this great people!
8 Hiram sent this reply to Solomon: “Thank you for your message. As for the cedar and cypress timber, I will do everything you want.
And Hiram sent unto Solomon, saying, I have heard that which thou hast sent unto me, —I, will do all thy desire, as to timber of cedar, and timber of fir.
9 My workers will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will have them floated in rafts by sea to wherever you decide. I will have the rafts broken apart there, and you can take the logs away. In return I would like you to provide food for my household.”
My servants, shall bring them down out of Lebanon unto the sea, and, I, will put them in rafts on the sea, unto the place of which thou shalt send me word, and will cause them to be discharged there, and, thou, shalt receive them, and, thou, shalt do my desire, by giving food for my household.
10 So Hiram provided Solomon with as much cedar and cypress timber that he wanted,
So then Hiram began giving unto Solomon timber of cedar, and timber of fir, even all his desire,
11 Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors of wheat for food and 20,000 cors of olive oil for his household. Solomon provided this to Hiram every year.
and, Solomon, gave unto Hiram, twenty thousand measures of wheat, as food for his household, and twenty measures of beaten oil, —thus, used Solomon on to give unto Hiram, year by year.
12 The Lord gave Solomon wisdom just as he had promised him. Hiram and Solomon had a good relationship and they made a peace treaty with each other.
And, Yahweh, gave wisdom unto Solomon, as he promised him, —and it came to pass that there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and, they two, solemnised a covenant.
13 King Solomon drafted a labor force of 30,000 from all of Israel.
And King Solomon raised a labour-band, out of all Israel, —and it came to pass that, the labour-band, was thirty thousand men.
14 He sent them in shifts of 10,000 each month to Lebanon, so that they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home, Adoniram was in charge of the labor force.
And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month, by courses, a month, were they in Lebanon, two months, at home, —and, Adoniram, was over the levy.
15 Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country,
And it came to pass that, Solomon, had seventy thousand bearers of burdens, —and eighty thousand hewers in the mountain;
16 as well as 3,300 foremen he placed in charge of the workers.
besides the chiefs of Solomon’s officers, who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, —who ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
17 Following the king's orders, they quarried large blocks of stone that were expensive to produce, and laid these dressed stones as the foundation for the Temple.
And the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to found the house with hewn stones.
18 So Solomon's and Hiram's builders, together with the Gebalites, cut the stone. They prepared the timber and stone to build the Temple.
And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders with the Gebalites wrought them, —thus made they ready the timber and the stones, for building the house.
