A Song of Ascents. Solomon’s. If, Yahweh, build not the house, in vain, have the builders of it toiled thereon, If, Yahweh, watch not the city, in vain, hath the watchman kept awake:
Upon thy walls O Jerusalem, have I appointed watchmen, All the day and all the night through, let them not hold their peace,—O ye that put Yahweh in mind, Do not take rest to yourselves,
Against the walls of Babylon, Lift ye up a standard, Strengthen ye the watch, Station the watchmen, Make ready the ambuscades,—For Yahweh hath both planned and also performed that which he had spoken against the inhabitants of Babylon.
Then said David, unto Solomon his son, Be strong and bold, and act, thou mayest not fear nor be dismayed,—for, Yahweh, God, my God, will be with thee, he will not let thee go, neither will he forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh.
I again saw under the sun, that not, to the swift, was the race, nor, to the strong, the battle, nay! nor, to the wise, food, nor yet, to the intelligent, riches, nor, even to the well-informed, comeliness,—for, time and accident, happened to them all.
Also, unto Solomon my son, give thou an undivided heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes,—to do the whole, and to build the palace for which I have prepared.
But thou shalt remember Yahweh thy God, that it was, he, who had been giving thee strength to get wealth,—that so he might establish his covenant which he sware to thy fathers as at this day.
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.