1 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and up to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

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.

2 Solomon's daily provisions were thirty measures of the finest flour and sixty measures of regular flour.

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3 This included ten fattened head of cattle, twenty pasture-fed cattle, and a hundred sheep—besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.

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.

4 He ruled over all the region west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and over all the kings in that region. He had peace on all sides around him.

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

5 Judah and Israel lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

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.

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

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.

7 These officers provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table, each during his assigned month, without fail.

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.

8 They also brought barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the proper places, each officer according to his duty.

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.

9 God gave Solomon wisdom, very great understanding, and vast insight, as expansive as the sand on the seashore.

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.

10 Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.

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

11 He was wiser than any other man, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. His fame spread to all the surrounding nations.

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.

12 He spoke three thousand proverbs and composed one thousand five songs.

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.

13 He spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals, birds, creeping things, and fish.

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

14 People came from all the nations to hear Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

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.

15 King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that Solomon had been anointed king in place of his father, David, and Hiram had always been a friend of David.

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

16 Then Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:

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.

17 You know that my father, David, could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars waged against him from all directions until the LORD put his enemies under the soles of his feet.

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

18 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.

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

19 So I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD told my father, David, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’

20 Now then, command that cedar trees be cut for me from Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that we have no one among us skilled in cutting timber like the Sidonians.

21 When Hiram heard Solomon's words, he greatly rejoiced and said, ‘Blessed be the LORD today, who has given David a wise son to rule over this great people!’

22 Hiram sent this reply to Solomon: ‘I have heard the message you sent me, and I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber.

23 My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you designate. I will break the rafts apart there, and you can take them away. You will fulfill my request by providing food for my household.’

24 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the cedar wood and cypress wood he wanted.

25 In return, Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as provision for his household, and twenty cors of pure olive oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.

26 The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.

27 King Solomon conscripted a labor force from all Israel; the labor force consisted of thirty thousand men.

28 He sent them to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the labor force.

29 Solomon had seventy thousand men who carried burdens and eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountains.

30 Besides these, there were three thousand three hundred chief officers, appointed by Solomon, who supervised the people doing the work.

31 At the king's command, they quarried large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with hewn stones.

32 The builders of Solomon, Hiram, and the men of Gebal carved and prepared the timber and stone to build the temple.