1
And David assembled all the chief of Israel, the chief of the judges, and all the chief of the courses on the person of the king, and the captains of thousands and hundreds, and the treasurers, and the lords of his substance, and of all the king's property, and of his sons, together with the eunuchs, and the mighty men, and the warriors of the army, at Jerusalem.
2
And David stood in the midst of the assembly, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and a place for the feet of our Lord, and I prepared suitable for the building:
3
but God said, Thou shalt not build me a house to call my name upon it, for thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.
4
Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me out of the whole house of my father to be king over Israel for ever; and he chose Juda as the kingly , and out of the house of Juda the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he preferred me, that I should be king over all Israel.
5
And of all my sons, (for the Lord has given me many sons,) he has chosen Solomon my son, to set him on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
6
And God said to me, Solomon thy son shall build my house and my court: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be to him a father.
7
And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he continue to keep my commandments, and my judgments, as this day.
8
And now before the whole assembly of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek all the commandments of the Lord our God, that ye may inherit the good land, and leave it for your sons to inherit after you for ever.