1 Then Solomon said: The LORD said He would dwell in thick darkness,
2 but I have built an exalted temple for You, a place for Your residence forever.
3 Then the king turned and blessed the entire congregation of Israel while they were standing.
4 He said: May the LORD God of Israel be praised! He spoke directly to my father David, and He has fulfilled the promise by His power. He said,
5 “Since the day I brought My people Israel out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city to build a temple in among any of the tribes of Israel, so that My name would be there, and I have not chosen a man to be ruler over My people Israel.
6 But I have chosen Jerusalem so that My name will be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.”
7 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of •Yahweh, the God of Israel.
8 However, Yahweh said to my father David, “Since it was your desire to build a temple for My name, you have done well to have this desire.
9 Yet, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own offspring , will build the temple for My name.”
10 So Yahweh has fulfilled what He promised. I have taken the place of my father David and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised. I have built the temple for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
11 I have put the ark there, where Yahweh’s covenant is that He made with the Israelites .
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands.
13 For Solomon had made a bronze platform 7 1/2 feet long, 7 1/2 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet high and put it in the court. He stood on it, knelt down in front of the entire congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven.
