1 Chronicles 28

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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.	1 David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, the commanders of the divisions who were in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, the overseers of all the king's estates and possessions, and his sons, together with the courtiers, the warriors, and every important man.
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,	2 King David rose to his feet and said: "Hear me, my brethren and my people. It was my purpose to build a house of repose myself for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the footstool for the feet of our God; and I was preparing 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."	3 But God said to me, 'You may not build a house in my honor, for you are a man who fought wars and shed 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.	4 However, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all my father's family to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, then one family of Judah, that of my father; and finally, among all the sons of my father, it pleased him to make me king over 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.	5 And of all my sons--for the LORD has given me many sons--he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the LORD'S royal 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.	6 For he said to me: 'It is your son Solomon who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him for my son, and I will be a father to him.
7 I shal make his sovereignty secure for ever if he sturdily carries out my commandments andordinances as he does now."	7 I will establish his kingdom forever, if he perseveres in keeping my commandments and decrees as he keeps them 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.	8 Therefore, in the presence of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, I exhort you to keep and to carry out all the commandments of the LORD, your God, that you may continue to possess this good land and afterward leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.
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.	9 "As for you, Solomon, my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing soul, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the mind's thoughts. If you seek him, he will let himself be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will cast you off forever.
10 So, since Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for his sanctuary, go resolutely to work!'	10 See, then! The LORD has chosen you to build a house as his sanctuary. Take courage and set 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	11 Then David gave to his son Solomon the pattern of the portico and of the building itself, with its storerooms, its upper rooms and inner chambers, and the room with the propitiatory.
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,	12 He provided also the pattern for all else that he had in mind by way of courts for the house of the LORD, with the surrounding compartments for the stores for the house of God and the stores of the votive offerings,
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;	13 as well as for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the liturgical vessels of the house of the LORD.
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;	14 He specified the weight of gold to be used in the golden vessels for the various services and the weight of silver to be used in the silver vessels for the various services;
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;	15 likewise for the golden lampstands and their lamps he specified the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, and for the silver lampstands he specified the weight of silver for each lampstand and its lamps, depending on the use to which each lampstand was to be put.
16 for the gold bul ion for each of the tables for the loaves of permanent offering and the silver for thesilver tables;	16 He specified the weight of gold for each table to hold the showbread, and the silver for the silver 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;	17 the pure gold to be used for the forks and pitchers; the amount of gold for each golden bowl and the silver for each silver bowl;
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-	18 the refined gold, and its weight, to be used for the altar of incense; and, finally, gold for what would suggest a chariot throne: the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
19 al this was in the document conveying Yahweh's instructions, by which he revealed the pattern ofwhat was to be done.	19 He had successfully committed to writing the exact specifications of the pattern, because the hand of the LORD was upon him.
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.	20 Then David said to his son Solomon: "Be firm and steadfast; go to work without fear or discouragement, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or abandon you before you have completed all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
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.'	21 The classes of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God; they will help you in all your work with all those who are eager to show their skill in every kind of craftsmanship. Also the leaders and all the people will do everything that you command."