1 ¶ And David gathered at Jerusalem all the governors of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, and the officers of the companies who ministered to the king by their divisions, and the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and the stewards over all the property and livestock of the king, and his sons, along with the officers, mighty men, and valiant men.

2 Then David the king rose to his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had prepared to build:

3 But God said to me, You shall not build a house for my name, because you have been a man of war, and have shed blood.

4 However the LORD God of Israel chose me before the entire house of my father to be king over Israel forever: for he has chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he favored me to make me king over all Israel:

5 And of all my sons, (for the LORD has given me many sons,) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

6 And he said to me, Solomon your son will build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is resolute to do what I have ordered and decided, as he does now.

8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek all the commandments of the LORD your God: that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.

9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the mind: if you seek him, you will find him; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

10 Take heed now; for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

11 ¶ Then David gave Solomon his son the plan for the porch, and the houses of the temple, and its treasuries, and its upper chambers, and its inner rooms, and the place for the mercy seat,

12 And the plan of all that he had by the spirit, for the courts of the house of the LORD, and for all the surrounding chambers, for the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries of the dedicated things:

13 Also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.

14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:

15 Even the weight for the lampstands of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every lampstand, and for its lamps: and for the lampstands of silver by weight, both for the lampstand, and also for its lamps, according to the use of every lampstand.

16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of showbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:

17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin; and likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver:

18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubim, who spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand through what was written with his hand upon me, all the work according to the plan.

20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: do not be afraid, or discouraged: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with you; he will not fail you, or forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

21 And, behold, the divisions of the priests and the Levites, will be with you for all the service of the house of God: and every willing skilful man will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for any manner of service: also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.