3 Kings 5

¹Hiram also the king of Tyre sent his servants to Salomon: for he heard that they had anointed him king for his father: because Hiram had been David's friend at all time.

²And Salomon sent to Hiram, saying:

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

⁴But now our Lord my God hath given me rest round about: and there is no satan, nor ill rencounter.

⁵Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of our Lord my God, as our Lord hath spoken to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom I will give for thee upon thy throne, he shall build a house to my name.

⁶Command therefore that thy servants cut me down cedars 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 in my people a man that hath skill to hew wood as the Sidonians.

⁷When Hiram therefore had heard the words of Salomon, he rejoiced exceedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath given unto David a son most wise over this people so great in number.

⁸And Hiram sent to Salomon, saying: I have heard whatsoever thou hast willed me: I will do all thy will in cedar trees, and fir trees.

⁹My servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea: and I will put them in boats in the sea, unto the place which thou shalt signify to me; & will land them there, and thou shalt take them: and thou shalt allow me necessaries, that there be meat given for my house.

¹⁰Therefore Hiram gave Salomon cedar trees, and fir trees, according to all his will.

¹¹And Salomon allowed Hiram twenty thousand cores of wheat, for provision for his house, and twenty cores of most pure oil: these things did Salomon give to Hiram every year.

¹²Our Lord also gave wisdom to Salomon, as he spake to him: & there was peace between Hiram & Salomon, and both made a league.

¹³And king Salomon chose workmen out of all Israel, and the taxed number was of thirty thousand men.

¹⁴And he sent them into Libanus, ten thousand every month by course, so that two months they were in their houses: and Adoniram was over this taxing.

¹⁵And Salomon had seventy thousand of them that carried burdens, and eighty thousand hewers of stones in the mountain:

¹⁶besides the overseers which were over every work, in number three thousand, and three hundred that commanded the people, & them that did the work.

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

¹⁸which the masons of Salomon, and masons of Hiram hewed: moreover the Giblians prepared timber and stones, to build the house.