1And David assembled all the princes of Israel , the princes of the tribes , and the captains of the companies that served the king by course , and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds , and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons , with the officers , and the mighty men , even all the mighty men of valor , unto Jerusalem . 2Then David the king stood up upon his feet , and said , Hear me , my brethren, and my people : as for me , it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah , and for the footstool of our God ; and I had made ready for the building . 3But God said unto me , Thou shalt not build a house for my name , because thou art a man of war , and hast shed blood . 4Howbeit Jehovah , the God of Israel , chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever : for he hath chosen Judah to be prince ; and in the house of Judah , the house of my father ; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel ; 5and of all my sons ( for Jehovah hath given me many sons ), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel . 6And he said unto me , Solomon thy son , he shall build my house and my courts ; for I have chosen him to be my son , and I will be his father . 7And I will establish his kingdom for ever , if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances , as at this day . 8Now therefore , in the sight of all Israel , the assembly of Jehovah , and in the audience of our God , observe and seek out all the commandments of Jehovah your God ; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you for ever . 9And thou , Solomon my son , know thou the God of thy father , and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind ; for Jehovah searcheth all hearts , and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts . If thou seek him , he will be found of thee ; but if thou forsake him , he will cast thee off for ever . 10Take heed now ; for Jehovah hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary : be strong , and do it .
The Plans for the Temple
11Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple , and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the mercy-seat; 12and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit , for the courts of the house of Jehovah , and for all the chambers round about , for the treasuries of the house of God , and for the treasuries of the dedicated things ; 13also for the courses of the priests and the Levites , and for all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah , and for all the vessels of service in the house of Jehovah ; 14of gold by weight for the vessels of gold , for all vessels of every kind of service ; of silver for all the vessels of silver by weight , for all vessels of every kind of service ; 15by weight also for the candlesticks of gold , and for the lamps thereof , of gold , by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof ; and for the candlesticks of silver , silver by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof , according to the use of every candlestick ; 16and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread , for every table ; and silver for the tables of silver ; 17and the flesh-hooks, and the basins , and the cups , of pure gold ; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl ; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl ; 18and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight ; and gold for the pattern of the chariot , even the cherubim , that spread out their wings , and covered the ark of the covenant of Jehovah . 19All this , said David , have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah , even all the works of this pattern .
David's Encouragement to Solomon
20And David said to Solomon his son , Be strong and of good courage , and do it : fear not , nor be dismayed ; for Jehovah God , even my God , is with thee ; he will not fail thee , nor forsake thee , until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah be finished . 21And , behold , there are the courses of the priests and the Levites , for all the service of the house of God : and there shall be with thee in all manner of work every willing man that hath skill , for any manner of service : also the captains and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment .