1 Chronicles 28

¹ David then summoned to Jerusalem al the officials of Israel -- the tribal chiefs, the senior officials inthe royal service, the commanders of the thousands, the commanders of the hundreds and the overseers of althe property and livestock belonging to the king and to his sons -- including the court officials, the champions andal the men of standing.

² King David then rose to his feet and said: 'My brothers and my people, listen to me. I have set myheart on building a settled home for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, for the footstool for our God, but when Iwas ready to build it,

³ God said to me, "You must not build a house for my name, for you have been a man of war and haveshed blood."

⁴ 'Even so, out of my entire family, it was I whom Yahweh, God of Israel, chose to reign over Israel forever. Having chosen Judah as leader, and my family out of the House of Judah, it pleased him out of al myfather's sons to make me king of all Israel.

⁵ Out of al my sons -- for Yahweh has given me many -- he has chosen my son Solomon to sit onYahweh's sovereign throne over Israel.

⁶ Furthermore, he has told me, "Solomon your son is the man to build my house and my courts, for Ihave chosen him to be my son and I shal be his father.

⁷ I shal make his sovereignty secure for ever if he sturdily carries out my commandments andordinances as he does now."

⁸ 'So now in the sight of al Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the hearing of our God, I charge youto observe and adhere strictly to al the commandments of Yahweh your God, so that you may retain possessionof this fine country and leave it to your sons after you as a heritage for ever.

⁹ 'And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with an undivided heart andwil ing mind; for Yahweh scrutinises al hearts and understands whatever plans they may devise. If you seekhim, he will let you find him; but forsake him and he wil cast you off for ever.

¹⁰ So, since Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for his sanctuary, go resolutely to work!'

¹¹ David then gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico, the plans for the buildings, itsstorehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms and the room for the throne of mercy

¹² as wel as the plans for everything that he had in mind: for the courts of the house of Yahweh, for althe surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the house of God and for the sacred treasuries,

¹³ for the orders of priests and Levites, for all the duties to be carried out in the service of the house ofYahweh, and for al the liturgical objects to be used in the house of Yahweh;

¹⁴ for the gold bul ion, for all the golden liturgical objects of various uses; for the silver bul ion, for al thesilver liturgical objects of various uses;

¹⁵ for the gold bul ion for the golden lamp-stands and for their lamps, and for the silver bullion for thesilver lamp-stands and their lights, depending on the function of each lamp-stand;

¹⁶ for the gold bul ion for each of the tables for the loaves of permanent offering and the silver for thesilver tables;

¹⁷ for the pure gold for the forks, the bowls and the jars, for the gold bul ion for each of the goldenbasins and for the silver bul ion for each of the silver basins;

¹⁸ and for the refined gold bul ion for the altar of incense; also for the gold for the model of the chariotand of the great winged creatures which cover the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with wings outspread-

¹⁹ al this was in the document conveying Yahweh's instructions, by which he revealed the pattern ofwhat was to be done.

²⁰ David then said to his son Solomon, 'Be resolute and courageous in your work, do not be afraid ordisheartened, because Yahweh God, my God, is with you. He wil not fail you or forsake you before you havefinished al the work to be done for the house of Yahweh.

²¹ And besides, there are the orders of priests and Levites for whatever is needed in connection withthe house of God, and you have at your disposal every kind of craftsman for whatever has to be done, as well asthe officials and al the people entirely at your command.'