New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 David summoned all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem—the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains, the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom.
1
David called together all the leaders of Israel - tribal administrators, heads of various governmental operations, military commanders and captains, stewards in charge of the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons - everyone who held responsible positions in the kingdom.
2 David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the LORD ’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it,
2
King David stood tall and spoke: "Listen to me, my people: I fully intended to build a permanent structure for the Chest of the Covenant of God, God's footstool. But when I got ready to build it,
3 but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’
3
God said to me, 'You may not build a house to honor me - you've done too much fighting - killed too many people.'
4 “Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. And from among my father’s sons the LORD was pleased to make me king over all Israel.
4
God chose me out of my family to be king over Israel forever. First he chose Judah as the lead tribe, then he narrowed it down to my family, and finally he picked me from my father's sons, pleased to make me the king over all Israel.
5 And from among my sons—for the LORD has given me many—he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the LORD ’s kingdom.
5
And then from all my sons - and God gave me many! - he chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of God's rule over Israel.
6 He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father.
6
He went on to say, 'Your son Solomon will build my house and my courts: I have chosen him to be my royal adopted son; and I will be to him a father.
7 And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’
7
I will guarantee that his kingdom will last if he continues to be as strong-minded in doing what I command and carrying out my decisions as he is doing now.'
8 “So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the LORD ’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the LORD your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.
8
"And now, in this public place, all Israel looking on and God listening in, as God's people, obey and study every last one of the commandments of your God so that you can make the most of living in this good land and pass it on intact to your children, insuring a good future.
9 “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.
9
"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.
10 So take this seriously. The LORD has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”
10
Look sharp now! God has chosen you to build his holy house. Be brave, determined! And do it!"
11 Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement.
11
Then David presented his son Solomon with the plans for The Temple complex: porch, storerooms, meeting rooms, and the place for atoning sacrifice.
12 David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind for the courtyards of the LORD ’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the LORD .
12
He turned over the plans for everything that God's Spirit had brought to his mind: the design of the courtyards, the arrangements of rooms, and the closets for storing all the holy things.
13 The king also gave Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various divisions of priests and Levites in the Temple of the LORD . And he gave specifications for the items in the Temple that were to be used for worship.
13
He gave him his plan for organizing the Levites and priests in their work of leading and ordering worship in the house of God, and for caring for the liturgical furnishings.
14 David gave instructions regarding how much gold and silver should be used to make the items needed for service.
14
e provided exact specifications for how much gold and silver was needed for each article used in the serv- ices of worship:
15 He told Solomon the amount of gold needed for the gold lampstands and lamps, and the amount of silver for the silver lampstands and lamps, depending on how each would be used.
15
the gold and silver Lampstands and lamps,
16 He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and the amount of silver for other tables.
16
the gold tables for consecrated bread, the silver tables,
17 David also designated the amount of gold for the solid gold meat hooks used to handle the sacrificial meat and for the basins, pitchers, and dishes, as well as the amount of silver for every dish.
17
the gold forks, the bowls and the jars,
18 He designated the amount of refined gold for the altar of incense. Finally, he gave him a plan for the LORD ’s “chariot”—the gold cherubim whose wings were stretched out over the Ark of the LORD ’s Covenant.
18
and the incense altar. And he gave him the plan for sculpting the cherubs with their wings outstretched over the Chest of the Covenant of God - the cherubim throne.
19 “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the LORD . ”
19
"Here are the blueprints for the whole project as God gave me to understand it," David said.
20 Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly.
20
David continued to address Solomon: "Take charge! Take heart! Don't be anxious or get discouraged. God, my God, is with you in this; he won't walk off and leave you in the lurch. He's at your side until every last detail is completed for conducting the worship of God.
21 The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.”
21
You have all the priests and Levites standing ready to pitch in, and skillful craftsmen and artisans of every kind ready to go to work. Both leaders and people are ready. Just say the word."
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.