2 Chronicles 6:1-11

New Century Version

Solomon Speaks to the People

6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord said he would live in the dark cloud. ² Lord, I have built a wonderful Temple for you—a place for you to live forever.”

³ While all the Israelites were standing there, King Solomon turned to them and blessed them. ⁴ Then he said, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He has done what he promised to my father David. The Lord said, ⁵ ‘Since the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel where a temple will be built for me. I did not choose a man to lead my people Israel. ⁶ But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place I am to be worshiped, and I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’

⁷ “My father David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁸ But the Lord said to my father David, ‘It was good that you wanted to build a temple for me. ⁹ But you are not the one to build it. Your son, who comes from your own body, is the one who will build my temple.’

¹⁰ “Now the Lord has kept his promise. I am the king now in place of David my father. Now I rule Israel as the Lord promised, and I have built the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹¹ There I have put the Ark, in which is the Agreement the Lord made with the Israelites.”