1 Chronicles 28:9

Wycliffe Bible

But thou, Salomon, my sone, knowe the God of thi fadir, and serue thou hym with perfit herte, and wilful soule; for the Lord serchith alle hertis, and vndirstondith alle thouytis of soulis; if thou sekist hym, thou schalt fynde hym; forsothe if thou forsakist hym, he schal caste thee awei with outen ende.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.

Hebrew Names Version
You, Shlomo my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

King James Version
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

English Standard Version
"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

New Century Version
"And you, my son Solomon, accept the God of your father. Serve him completely and willingly, because the Lord knows what is in everyone's mind. He understands everything you think. If you go to him for help, you will get an answer. But if you turn away from him, he will leave you forever.

New English Translation
"And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one's thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.

Amplified Bible
"As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and minds, and understands every intent and inclination of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will reject you forever.

New American Standard Bible
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

World English Bible
You, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And thou, Salomon my sonne, know thou the God of thy father, and serue him with a perfit heart, and with a willing minde: For the Lorde searcheth all hearts, and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of thoughts: if thou seeke him, he will be found of thee, but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for euer.

Legacy Standard Bible
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a delighted soul; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Berean Standard Bible
As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Contemporary English Version
Solomon, my son, worship God and obey him with all your heart and mind, just as I have done. He knows all your thoughts and your reasons for doing things, and so if you turn to him, he will hear your prayers. But if you ignore him, he will reject you forever.

Complete Jewish Bible
"As for you, Shlomo my son, know the God of your father. Serve him wholeheartedly and with desire in your being; for Adonai searches all hearts and understands all the inclinations of people's thoughts. If you seek him, he will let himself be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.

Darby Translation
And thou, Solomon my son, know the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Jehovah searches all hearts, and discerns all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cut thee off for ever.

Easy-to-Read Version
"And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father. Serve God with a pure heart. Be happy to serve him, because the Lord knows what is in everyone's heart. He knows what you are thinking. If you go to him for help, you will get an answer. But if you turn away from him, he will leave you forever.

George Lamsa Translation
And you, Solomon my son, know everything that the LORD our God has commanded us, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD knows everything that is in the heart and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts of men; if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

Good News Translation
And to Solomon he said, "My son, I charge you to acknowledge your father's God and to serve him with an undivided heart and a willing mind. He knows all our thoughts and desires. If you go to him, he will accept you; but if you turn away from him, he will abandon you forever.

Lexham English Bible
"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and a willing mind, for Yahweh searches all hearts and understands every plan and all thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.

Literal Translation
And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind. For Jehovah searches out all hearts, and He understands every imagination of thoughts. If you shall seek Him, He shall be foundby you. But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And thou my sonne Salomo, knowe thou the God of thy father, and serue him with all thy hert, and with the desyre of thy soule: for the LORDE searcheth all hertes, and vnderstondeth all thoughtes & ymaginacions Yf thou seke him, thou shalt fynde him: but yf thou forsake him, he shall refuse the for euer.

American Standard Version
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Jehovah searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Bible in Basic English
And you, Solomon my son, get knowledge of the God of your father, and be his servant with a true heart and with a strong desire, for the Lord is the searcher of all hearts, and has knowledge of all the designs of men's thoughts; if you make search for him, he will be near you; but if you are turned away from him, he will give you up for ever.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And thou Solomon my sonne, knowe thou the God of thy father, and serue him with a pure heart and with a wyllyng minde: For the Lord searcheth al heartes, and vnderstandeth all the immaginations of thoughtes: And if thou seeke him, he wyll be founde of thee: but if thou forsake him, he wyll cast thee of for euer.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts; if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever.

King James Version (1611)
And thou, Solomon my sonne, know thou the God of thy father, and serue him with a perfite heart, and with a willing minde: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seeke him, he will be found of thee, but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for euer.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And now, my son Solomon, know the God of thy fathers, and serve him with a perfect heart and willing soul: for the Lord searches all hearts, and knows every thought: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou shouldest forsake him, he will forsake thee for ever.

English Revised Version
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Update Bible Version
And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou shalt seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou shalt forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

New King James Version
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

New Living Translation
"And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

New Life Bible
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father. Serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord looks into all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you look to Him, He will let you find Him. But if you turn away from Him, He will turn away from you forever.

New Revised Standard
"And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with single mind and willing heart; for the Lord searches every mind, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thou, therefore, Solomon my son, Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing soul, for, all hearts, doth Yahweh search, and, every devised purpose, doth he understand, - If thou seek him, He will be found of thee, but, if thou forsake him, He will cast thee off for ever.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou my son Solomon, know the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the thoughts of minds. If thou seek him, thou shalt find him: but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Revised Standard Version
"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

Young's Literal Translation
`And thou, Solomon, my son, know the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind, for all hearts is Jehovah seeking, and every imagination of the thoughts He is understanding; if thou dost seek Him, He is found of thee, and if thou dost forsake Him, He casteth thee off for ever.

THE MESSAGE
"And you, Solomon my son, get to know well your father's God; serve him with a whole heart and eager mind, for God examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he'll make sure you find him, but if you abandon him, he'll leave you for good. Look sharp now! God has chosen you to build his holy house. Be brave, determined! And do it!"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Contextual Overview

¹ Therfor Dauid clepide togidere alle the princes of Israel, the duykis of lynagis, and the souereyns of cumpenyes, that `mynystriden to the kyng, also the tribunes, and centuriouns, and hem that weren souereyns ouer the catel and possessiouns of the kyng, and hise sones, with `nurchis, and techeris, and alle the myyti and strongeste men in the oost of Jerusalem. ² And whanne the kyng hadde rise, and `hadde stonde, he seide, My britheren and my puple, here ye me. Y thouyte for to bilde an hows, wherynne the arke of boond of pees of the Lord, and the stool of the feet of oure God schulde reste; and Y made redi alle thingis to bilde. <sup>3</sup> But God seide to me, Thou schalt not bilde an hows to my name, for thou art a man werriour, and hast sched blood. <sup>4</sup> But the Lord God of Israel chees me of al the hows of my fadir, that Y schulde be kyng on Israel with outen ende; for of Juda he chees princes, sotheli of the hows of Juda he chees the hows of my fadir, and of the sones of my fadir it pleside hym to chese me kyng on al Israel. <sup>5</sup> But also of my sones, for the Lord yaf to me many sones, he chees Salomon, my sone, that he schulde sitte in the troone of the rewme of the Lord on Israel. <sup>6</sup> And he seide to me, Salomon, thi sone, schal bilde myn hows, and myn auters; for Y haue chose hym to me in to a sone, and Y schal be to hym in to a fadir; <sup>7</sup> and Y schal make stidefast his rewme til in to with outen ende, if he schal contynue to do myn heestis and domes, as and to dai. <sup>8</sup> Now therfor bifor al the cumpeny of Israel, `Y seie these thingis that suen in the heryng of God, kepe ye and seke ye alle the comaundementis of `youre Lord God, that ye haue in possessioun a good lond, and that ye leeue it to youre sones aftir you til in to with outen ende. ⁹ But thou, Salomon, my sone, knowe the God of thi fadir, and serue thou hym with perfit herte, and wilful soule; for the Lord serchith alle hertis, and vndirstondith alle thouytis of soulis; if thou sekist hym, thou schalt fynde hym; forsothe if thou forsakist hym, he schal caste thee awei with outen ende. ¹⁰ Now therfor, for the Lord chees thee, for to bilde the hows of seyntuarie, be thou coumfortid, and parforme.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

know thou: Deuteronomy 4:35, 1 Kings 8:43, Psalms 9:10, Jeremiah 9:24, Jeremiah 22:16, Jeremiah 24:7, Jeremiah 31:34, Hosea 4:1, Hosea 4:6, John 8:55, John 17:3, Acts 17:23, Acts 17:30, Romans 1:28, 1 Corinthians 15:34, 2 Corinthians 4:6

the God: Genesis 28:13, Exodus 3:16, Exodus 15:2, 1 Kings 3:6, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 89:26

serve him: 1 Chronicles 29:9, 1 Chronicles 29:17-19, 1 Kings 8:61, 2 Kings 20:3, 2 Kings 22:2, Job 36:11, Job 36:12, Psalms 101:2, John 1:47, John 4:24, Romans 1:29, Hebrews 12:28

a willing mind: 2 Corinthians 8:12, 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Peter 5:2

the Lord: 1 Chronicles 29:17, 1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Kings 8:39, Psalms 7:9, Psalms 139:2, Proverbs 17:3, Jeremiah 11:20, Jeremiah 17:10, Jeremiah 20:12, John 2:25, John 21:17, Acts 1:24, Hebrews 4:13, Revelation 2:23

the imaginations: Genesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21, Deuteronomy 31:21, Psalms 139:2, Ezekiel 38:10

if thou seek: 2 Chronicles 15:2, Proverbs 2:1-6, Isaiah 45:19, Isaiah 55:6, Isaiah 55:7, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:8, James 4:8-11

if thou forsake: Deuteronomy 31:16, Deuteronomy 31:17, 1 Kings 9:6-9, Ezra 8:22, Isaiah 1:28, Hebrews 10:38, Hebrews 10:39

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:19 - command Exodus 35:21 - General Numbers 14:43 - because Deuteronomy 3:28 - charge Joshua Deuteronomy 4:15 - Take ye Deuteronomy 4:39 - and consider Joshua 24:20 - he will turn Judges 2:10 - knew not Judges 10:13 - General 1 Samuel 7:3 - prepare 1 Samuel 12:22 - the Lord 1 Samuel 15:23 - thou hast rejected 1 Kings 2:3 - And keep 1 Kings 2:4 - That the Lord 1 Kings 3:3 - walking 1 Kings 3:14 - if thou 1 Kings 6:12 - if thou wilt 1 Kings 6:13 - will not forsake 1 Kings 8:25 - thy children 1 Kings 8:57 - General 1 Kings 11:4 - his heart 1 Kings 11:33 - they have forsaken 2 Kings 21:22 - General 1 Chronicles 16:10 - let the heart 1 Chronicles 22:19 - set your 1 Chronicles 29:18 - in the imagination 1 Chronicles 29:19 - And give 2 Chronicles 6:30 - thou only 2 Chronicles 7:17 - if thou wilt 2 Chronicles 7:19 - if ye turn away 2 Chronicles 12:2 - because 2 Chronicles 12:5 - Ye have forsaken me 2 Chronicles 14:7 - we have sought 2 Chronicles 24:20 - because 2 Chronicles 34:3 - to seek Job 18:21 - knoweth Job 22:21 - Acquaint Psalms 27:9 - leave Psalms 43:2 - why dost Psalms 53:2 - seek Psalms 60:1 - O God Psalms 89:30 - If Psalms 89:38 - But Psalms 139:1 - thou hast Proverbs 3:6 - In Proverbs 4:2 - forsake Proverbs 4:4 - He Proverbs 9:10 - the knowledge Proverbs 15:5 - fool Isaiah 65:11 - they that Jeremiah 2:17 - in that Jeremiah 29:14 - I will be Lamentations 3:25 - unto Ezekiel 11:5 - for Daniel 11:32 - the people Hosea 6:6 - the Amos 5:4 - Seek Mark 8:15 - he charged Luke 5:22 - perceived Luke 6:8 - But John 2:24 - because Acts 15:8 - which Romans 8:27 - And he 1 Corinthians 9:17 - if I Galatians 4:9 - ye have Ephesians 6:4 - but 1 Thessalonians 2:11 - as 1 Timothy 3:15 - know 1 Timothy 6:14 - keep Hebrews 8:11 - Know the Hebrews 10:22 - a true Hebrews 11:6 - diligently

Cross-References

Genesis 26:34
Esau forsothe fourti yeer eld weddide twei wyues, Judith, the douytir of Beeri Ethei, and Bethsamath, the douyter of Elon, of the same place;

Genesis 28:13
and the Lord fastned to the laddir, seiynge to hym, Y am the Lord God of Abraham, thi fadir, and God of Isaac; Y schal yyue to thee and to thi seed the lond in which thou slepist.

Genesis 28:17
And he seide dredynge, Hou worschipful is this place! Here is noon other thing no but the hows of God, and the yate of heuene.

Genesis 36:13
Forsothe the sones of Rahuel weren, Naath, and Zara, and Semna, and Meza. These weren the sones of Bathsemath, `wijf of Esau.

Genesis 36:18
Forsothe these weren the sones of Oolibama, `wijf of Esau; duyk Hieus, duyk Hielon, duyk Chore; these weren duykis of Oolibama, douytir of Ana, `wijf of Esau.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And thou, Solomon my son,.... Who was present in this assembly, and presented to them by David as his successor, and their future king: and having addressed them, he turns himself to him, and exhorts him, saying,

know thou the God of thy father; who was his Father and covenant God, and whom he served and worshipped, and who had bestowed upon him many favours, both temporal and spiritual; and having had such an experience of his goodness, he exhorts his son to seek to know more and more of him, and to own and acknowledge him as his God, and to love and fear him:

serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind; cordially and sincerely, cheerfully and freely, neither in an hypocritical manner, nor through force and constraint, nor with loathing and weariness:

for the Lord searcheth all hearts; the hearts of all men, even of kings, and knows from what principles and with what views and in what manor they serve him:

and understandeth all the imaginations of the thought; not only the thoughts of the heart, when regularly formed and ranged in order, hut even the very beginning of them, the first motions of the mind, and before they are well formed, see Genesis 6:5

if thou seek him; by prayer and supplication in his house and ordinances:

he will be found of thee; grant his presence and bestow his favours, see Isaiah 4:6

but if thou forsake him: his word, his ways, his worship:

he will cast thee off for ever; from being king, or enjoying that peace, prosperity, and happiness, which otherwise would be enjoyed.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Know thou the God of thy father - “Knowing God,” in the sense of having a religious trust in Him, is an unusual phrase in the earlier Scriptures. It scarcely occurs elsewhere in the historical books. David, however, uses the phrase in his Psalms Psalms 36:10; and its occurrence here may be accepted as evidence that the entire speech is recorded in the actual words of the monarch.