O Lord, ¹  truly I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.”

He built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

Solomon’s and Hiram’s construction workers, ¹  along with men from Byblos, ²  did the chiseling and prepared the wood and stones for the building of the temple. ³ 

As the temple was being built, only stones shaped at the quarry ¹  were used; the sound of hammers, pickaxes, or any other iron tool was not heard at the temple while it was being built.

Then Saul built an altar for the Lord; it was the first time he had built an altar for the Lord.

He built up Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage cities he had built in Hamath.

He built the Upper Gate to the Lord’s temple and did a lot of work on the wall in the area known as Ophel. ¹ 

The men of Jericho ¹  built adjacent to it, and Zaccur son of Imri built adjacent to them. ² 

The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter ¹  remained with me.

I will rebuild you, my dear children Israel, ¹  so that you will once again be built up. Once again you will take up the tambourine and join in the happy throng of dancers. ² 

So Solomon finished building the temple. ¹ 

The house he builds is as fragile as a moth’s cocoon, ¹  like a hut ²  that a watchman has made.

The stone which the builders discarded ¹  has become the cornerstone. ² 

Jerusalem ¹  is a city designed to accommodate an assembly. ² 

The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem, ¹  and gathers the exiles of Israel.

Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out its seven pillars. ² 

By ¹  wisdom a house is built, ²  and through understanding it is established;

He has besieged ¹  and surrounded ²  me with bitter hardship. ³ 

¹ Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders have perfected your beauty.

You ¹  build Zion through bloody crimes, ²  Jerusalem ³  through unjust violence.