1 Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the
altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
2 And
David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in
the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house
of God.
3 And
David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and
for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;
4 Also
cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar
wood to David.
5 And
David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to
be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of
glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David
prepared abundantly before his death.
6 Then
he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD
God of Israel.
7 And
David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house
unto the name of the LORD my God:
8 But
the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and
hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou
hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
9 Behold,
a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him
rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I
will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
10 He
shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his
father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
11 Now,
my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the
LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
12 Only
the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning
Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.
13 Then
shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments
which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good
courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
14 Now,
behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred
thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of
brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone
have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.
15 Moreover there are workmen
with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner
of cunning men for every manner of work.
16 Of
the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no
number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the
LORD be with thee.
17 David
also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and
hath he not given
you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine
hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.
19 Now
set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and
build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the
LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the
name of the LORD.
