2 Chronicles 2

And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

Driven by devotion, Solomon resolved to construct a sacred home for the LORD, and a majestic palace for his reign.

And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.

Solomon commanded 70,000 men to carry heavy loads, 80,000 to cut stone from the mountain, and 3,600 to supervise them all, with a sense of urgency and determination.

And 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 reached out to King Huram of Tyre, pleading, "Just as you helped my father David by sending him cedar for his home, I ask for the same kindness."

Behold, 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.

Look, I'm creating a sacred place for our Lord God, dedicating it to Him. Here, we'll burn sweet incense before Him, set out the holy bread continually, and offer burnt offerings every morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at every new moon and during the holy festivals of the Lord our God. This is a lasting command for Israel, forever.

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

The home I create is magnificent, reflecting the immense greatness of our God, who surpasses all other gods.

But 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?

Who can construct a home for Him, when even the vast cosmos cannot hold Him? Who am I to think I can build such a place, except to offer my humble sacrifices to Him?

Send 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.

Please send me a skilled craftsman who can work with gold, silver, brass, iron, and colorful fabrics, and who can engrave beautifully, to work alongside the talented men in Judah and Jerusalem that my father David provided.

Send 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, fir, and algum trees from Lebanon. I'm aware your people are skilled in cutting timber there. Rest assured, my people will work alongside yours.

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

I'm gathering a massive amount of wood because the house I'm about to construct will be incredibly magnificent.

And, 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.

Look, I promise to provide your hardworking lumberjacks with abundant supplies: 20,000 units each of crushed wheat, barley, wine, and oil.

Then 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.

King Huram of Tyre responded in a letter to Solomon, "God's love for His people is so great, He has chosen you to rule over them."

Huram 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 joyfully praised, "How wonderful is the Lord God of Israel, the creator of heaven and earth! He blessed King David with a wise and understanding son, capable of building a home for the Lord and his kingdom."

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

Now, I've sent a wise and insightful man, a protege of my father Huram.

The 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.

A woman from the tribe of Dan had a son, whose father was a gifted artisan from Tyre. He was a master of many crafts - working with gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, and wood. He could weave purple, blue, fine linen, and crimson fabrics. He was also a skilled engraver, able to create any design presented to him. He worked alongside your skilled craftsmen and those of your father, King David.

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

So, my lord, please send us the wheat and barley, the oil and wine you mentioned, for your humble servants await them.

And 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'll gather as much timber as you need from Lebanon's forests. We'll transport it via sea rafts to Joppa. From there, you'll take it to Jerusalem.

And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.

Solomon took a careful count of all the foreigners residing in Israel, following the tradition set by his father, David. The total came to a staggering 153,600.

And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.

He assigned 70,000 of them as laborers, 80,000 as mountain miners, and 3,600 as supervisors to keep the people working.