¹⁷ Then David ordered^(A) all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon.

David’s Plans for the Temple

28 David summoned^(A) all the officials^(B) of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.

² King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart^(C) to build a house as a place of rest^(D) for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool^(E) of our God, and I made plans to build it.^{(F) 3} But God said to me,^(G) ‘You are not to build a house for my Name,^(H) because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’^(I)

⁴ “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me^(J) from my whole family^(K) to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah^(L) as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.^{(M) 5} Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many^(N)—he has chosen my son Solomon^(O) to sit on the throne^(P) of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. ⁶ He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build^(Q) my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son,^(R) and I will be his father.

⁸ We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

³ Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,^(A) whose names are in the book of life.^(B)

² I ask you to receive her in the Lord^(A) in a way worthy of his people^(B) and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

⁶ Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials^(A) in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.^(B)

²¹ The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled^(A) in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”