Solomon Blesses the People
1 Then Solomon said, "Yahweh has decided to dwell in the deep gloom.
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But I have built for you an exalted house, even a place for you to dwell in forever."
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Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel were standing.
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And he said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth with David my father, and with his hands he has fulfilled [it], saying,
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'From the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt I did not choose a city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in order for my name [to be] there. Nor did I choose a man to be leader over my people Israel.
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But I have chosen my name to be there in Jerusalem, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.'
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Now, it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
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But Yahweh said to David my father, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart,
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but you yourself will not build the house, but your son who will proceed from your loins; he himself will build the house for my name.'
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Now Yahweh has fulfilled his word that he spoke. I have risen in the place of David my father and am seated on the throne of Israel as Yahweh has spoken. I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
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And I have there the ark [in] which [is] the covenant of Yahweh that he {made} with the {Israelites}."