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And he said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying,
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'Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city in all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my people Israel;
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but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there 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 the LORD, the God of Israel.
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But the LORD said to David my father, 'Whereas 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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nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.'
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Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise which he made; for I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
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And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD which he made with the people of Israel."
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Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands.
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Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court; and he stood upon it. Then he knelt upon his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;
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and said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to thy servants who walk before thee with all their heart;