1 Chronicles 28

¹And David assembled all the officials of Israel — the officials of the tribes, the officials of the divisions who serve the king, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, the officials over all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the court officials and the warriors and every warrior of valor — to Jerusalem.

²Then David the king arose to his feet and said: Hear me, my brothers and my people. It was 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 I had made preparations to build.

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

⁴Yet the LORD God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever; for he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and from among my father's sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.

⁵And from all my sons — for the LORD has given me many sons — he chose Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

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

⁷I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is resolute to observe my commandments and my ordinances, as on this day.

⁸And now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God — keep and seek all the commandments of the LORD, God of you all, so that you may possess the good land and leave it as an inheritance to sons of you all after you all forever.

⁹And you, Solomon my son — know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and a willing soul, for the LORD searches all hearts and discerns every inclination of thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

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

¹¹Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule and its buildings, its treasuries, its upper rooms, its inner chambers, and the room of the mercy seat.

¹²And the plan of everything that was in his 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 for the treasuries of the dedicated things.

¹³And 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 of the house of the LORD.

¹⁴Gold, by weight, for every vessel of service and for each service; and all the silver vessels by weight, for every vessel of service and for each service.

¹⁵And the weight for the gold lampstands and their lamps — gold by the weight of each lampstand and its lamps — and for the silver lampstands by weight, for each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand.

¹⁶And the gold by weight for the tables of the showbread, for each individual table; and the silver for the silver tables.

¹⁷The forks, the sprinkling bowls, and the pitchers of pure gold; and for the gold cups, by weight for each individual cup; and for the silver cups, by weight for each individual cup.

¹⁸And for the altar of incense — refined gold by weight. And for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubim, of gold, spreading out and covering over the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

¹⁹All of this came to me in writing from the hand of the LORD; he gave me understanding of all the workings of the plan.

²⁰Then David said to Solomon his son: Be strong, be courageous, and act. Do not fear and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work of service for the house of the LORD is finished.

²¹And behold — the divisions of the priests and the Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and with you in all the work is every willing person skilled in every service; and the officials and all the people await all your commands.