1
David assembled all the princes of Yisra'el, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies who served the king by course, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, to Yerushalayim.
2
Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, Hear me, my brothers, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building.
3
But God said to me, You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.
4
However the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Yisra'el forever: for he has chosen Yehudah to be prince; and in the house of Yehudah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Yisra'el;
5
Of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), he has chosen Shlomo my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Yisra'el.
6
He said to me, Shlomo your son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7
I will establish his kingdom forever, if he be constant to do my mitzvot and my ordinances, as at this day.
8
Now therefore, in the sight of all Yisra'el, the assembly of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the mitzvot of the LORD your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.
9
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.
10
Take heed now; for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
11
Then David gave to Shlomo his son the pattern of the porch [of the temple], and of the houses of it, and of the treasuries of it, and of the upper rooms of it, and of the inner chambers of it, and of the place of the mercy seat;