22
1 Then
David said, “This
is the house
of the LORD
God, and this
is the altar
of burnt offering
for Israel.”
2 David gave
orders to gather
together the
foreigners who
were in the land
of Israel; and
he set masons
to cut dressed
stones to
build God’s house.
3 David
prepared iron in
abundance for the
nails for the
doors of the
gates and for
the couplings, and
bronze in
abundance without
weight,
4 and cedar
trees without
number, for the
Sidonians and
the people of Tyre
brought cedar trees
in abundance to
David.
5 David said,
“Solomon my son
is young and
tender, and the
house that is
to be built
for the LORD
must be
exceedingly magnificent,
of fame and
of glory
throughout all countries.
I will therefore
make preparation
for it.” So
David prepared
abundantly before
his death.
6 Then
he called for
Solomon his son,
and commanded him
to build a
house for the
LORD, the God
of Israel.
7 David said
to Solomon his
son, “As for
me, it was
in my heart
to build a
house to the
name of the
LORD my God.
8 But
the LORD’s word
came to me,
saying, ‘You have
shed blood
abundantly and
have made great
wars. You shall
not build a
house to my
name, because you
have shed much
blood on the earth
in my sight.
9 Behold,
a son shall
be born to
you, who shall
be a man
of peace. I
will give him
rest from all
his enemies all
around; for his
name shall be
Solomon, and I
will give peace
and quietness to
Israel in his
days.
10 He
shall build a
house for my
name; and he
will be my
son, and I
will be his
father; and I
will establish the
throne of his
kingdom over
Israel forever.’
11 Now,
my son, may
the LORD be
with you and
prosper you, and
build the house
of the LORD
your God, as
he has spoken
concerning you.
12 May
the LORD give
you discretion and
understanding, and
put you in
charge of Israel,
so that you
may keep the
law of the
LORD your God.
13 Then
you will prosper,
if you observe to
do the statutes
and the ordinances
which the LORD
gave Moses
concerning Israel.
Be strong and
courageous. Don’t be
afraid and don’t
be dismayed.
14 Now,
behold, in my
affliction I have
prepared for the
LORD’s house one
hundred thousand talents
of gold,
one million talents
of silver, and
bronze and iron
without weight;
for it is
in abundance. I
have also prepared
timber and stone;
and you may
add to them.
15 There
are also workmen
with you in
abundance—cutters and
workers of stone
and timber, and
all kinds of
men who are
skillful in
every kind of work;
16 of
the gold, the
silver, the bronze,
and the iron,
there is no
number. Arise and
be doing, and
may the LORD
be with you.”
17 David
also commanded all
the princes of
Israel to help
Solomon his son,
saying,
18 “Isn’t the
LORD your God
with you? Hasn’t
he given you
rest on every
side? For he
has delivered the
inhabitants of the
land into my
hand; and the
land is subdued
before the LORD
and before his
people.
19 Now
set your heart
and your soul
to follow the
LORD your God.
Arise therefore,
and build the
sanctuary of the
LORD God, to
bring the ark of
the LORD’s
covenant and the
holy vessels of
God into the
house that is
to be built
for the LORD’s
name.”