1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had loved David all his days.
2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:
3 You know how my father David could not build a house unto the name of Jehovah his God because of the wars that were around him on every side, until Jehovah had put them under the soles of his feet.
4 But now Jehovah my God has given me rest all around; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.
5 And behold, I am intending to build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God, as Jehovah has spoken to my father David, saying, Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house unto My name.
6 Now therefore, command that they cut down cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.
7 And so it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said, Blessed is Jehovah this day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people!
8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have agreed to the things which you have sent me, and I will do all your desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber.
9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you direct me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can take them away. And you shall fulfill my desire by giving food for my household.
10 And Hiram gave Solomon cedar and cypress timber according to all his desire.
11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of beaten oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year.
12 Thus Jehovah gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made an alliance together.
13 And King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men.
14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the labor force.
15 And Solomon had seventy thousand carrying burdens, and eighty thousand hewing stone in the mountains,
16 besides three thousand three hundred from the chiefs of Solomons deputies, who ruled the people who did the work.
17 And the king commanded, and they quarried large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
18 Thus Solomons builders, Hirams builders, and the Giblites cut and prepared timber and stones to build the house.