1
And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men to Jerusalem.
2
Then David the king stood upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: [As for me], I [had] 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 had made ready for the building:
3
But God said to me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou [hast been] a man of war, and hast shed blood.
4
However the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he approved me to make [me] king over all Israel:
5
And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
6
And he said to me, Solomon thy 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
Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he shall be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
8
Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave [it] for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
9
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.
10
Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do [it].
11
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses of it, and of its treasuries, and of its upper chambers, and of its inner parlors, and of the place of the mercy-seat,