Solomon's Dedication of the Temple
1 Then Solomon said: The Lord said He would dwell in thick darkness,
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but I have built an exalted temple for You, a place for Your residence forever.
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Then the king turned and blessed the entire congregation of Israel while they were standing.
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He said: May the Lord God of Israel be praised! He spoke directly to my father David, and He has fulfilled [the promise] by His power. He said,
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"Since the day I brought My people Israel out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city to build a temple in among any of the tribes of Israel, so that My name would be there, and I have not chosen a man to be ruler over My people Israel.
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But I have chosen Jerusalem so that My name will be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel."
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Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
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However, the Lord said to my father David, "Since it was your desire to build a temple for My name, you have done well to have this desire.
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Yet, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own offspring, will build the temple for My name."
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So the Lord has fulfilled what He promised. I have taken the place of my father David and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
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I have put the ark there, where the Lord's covenant is that He made with the Israelites.