1Then King David said to all the congregation, “My son, Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for the LORD God.
2So I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the bronze for things of bronze, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistening stones, and of various colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
3Moreover, because I delight in the house of my God, I have given of my own proper goods, of gold and silver, for the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
4Even three thousand talents (about 200,000 pounds) of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents (about 462,000 pounds) of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses:
5The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of craftsmen. And who, then, is willing to consecrate his service this day to the LORD?”
6Then the heads of the fathers, princes of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and captains of hundreds, with the overseers of the king's work, offered willingly,
7And gave for the service of the house of God, of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams (darics - a gold coin that weighed about 128 grains troy) (about 1¾ pounds); and of silver, ten thousand talents; and of bronze, eighteen thousand talents (about 600 tons); and one hundred thousand talents (about 3,300 tons) of iron.
8And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, in the care of Jehiel, the Gershonite.
9Then the people rejoiced, for they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced with greatly.
10Therefore, David blessed the LORD before all the congregation; and David said, “Blessed be You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.
11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head above all.
12Both riches and honor come of You, and You reign over all; and in Your hand is power and might; and in Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all.
13Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.
14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of You, and of Your Own have we given You.
15For we are strangers before You, and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
16O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name comes of Your hand, and is all Your Own.
17I know also, my God, that You test the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now have I seen with joy Your people, who are present here, to offer willingly unto You.
18O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and prepare their heart unto You.
19And give unto Solomon, my son, a perfect heart, to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.”
20And David said to all the congregation, “Now bless the LORD your God.” And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king (as His earthly representative).
21And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the day following that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel;
22And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon, the son of David, king a second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the prince, and Zadok to be priest.
23Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David, his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
24And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of King David, submitted themselves to Solomon, the king.
25And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
26Thus David, the son of Jesse, reigned over all Israel.
27And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron, and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem.
28And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon, his son, reigned in his stead.
29Now the acts of David, the king, from first to last, are written in the book of Samuel, the seer, in the book of Nathan, the prophet, and in the book of Gad, the seer,
30With the accounts of all his reign and his might, and the times and the events that came upon him, on Israel, and on all the kingdoms of the countries. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |