Chapter 28
1 David assembled all the princes of Israel , the princes of the tribes , the captains of the companies who served the king by division , the captains of thousands, 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 , to Jerusalem .
2 Then David the king stood up on his feet and said , " Hear me , my brothers and my people ! As for me , it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of Yahweh ’s covenant , and for the footstool of our God ; and I had prepared for the building .
3 But God said to me , ‘ You shall not build a house for my name , because you are a man of war and have shed blood .’
4 However Yahweh , the God of Israel , chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever . For he has 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 .
5 Of all my sons ( for Yahweh has given me many sons ), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh ’s kingdom over Israel .
6 He said to me , ‘ Solomon , your son , shall build my house and my courts ; for I have chosen him to be my son , and I will be his father .
7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances , as it is today .’
8 Now therefore , in the sight of all Israel , Yahweh ’s assembly , and in the audience of our God , observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God , that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever .
9 You , Solomon my son , know the God of your father , and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind ; for Yahweh searches all hearts , and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts . If you seek him , he will be found by you ; but if you forsake him , he will cast you off forever .
10 Take heed now , for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary . Be strong , and do it ."
11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple , for its houses , for its treasuries , for its upper rooms , for its inner rooms , for the place of the mercy seat ;
12 and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit , for the courts of Yahweh ’s house , for all the surrounding rooms , for the treasuries of God ’s house , and for the treasuries of the dedicated things ;
13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites , for all the work of the service of Yahweh ’s house , and for all the vessels of service in Yahweh ’s house —
14 of gold by weight for the gold for all vessels of every kind of service , for all the vessels of silver by weight , for all vessels of every kind of service ;
15 by weight also for the lamp stands of gold , and for its lamps , of gold , by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps ; and for the lamp stands of silver , by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps , according to the use of every lamp stand;
16 and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table ; and silver for the tables of silver ;
17 and the forks , 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 ;
18 and for the altar of incense , refined gold by weight ; and gold for the plans for the chariot , and the cherubim that spread out and cover the ark of Yahweh ’s covenant .
19 " All this ", David said, " I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh ’s hand , even all the works of this pattern ."
20 David said to Solomon his son , " Be strong and courageous , and do it . Don’t be afraid , nor be dismayed , for Yahweh God , even my God , is with you . He will not fail you nor forsake you , until all the work for the service of Yahweh ’s house is finished .
21 Behold , there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of God ’s house . Every willing man who has skill for any kind of service shall be with you in all kinds of work . Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command ."