¹⁶ ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt,^(A) I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name^(B) might be there, but I have chosen^(C) David^(D) to rule my people Israel.’

²⁹ May your eyes be open^(A) toward^(B) this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name^(C) shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.

⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you^(A) the one to build me a house to dwell in?^{(B) 6} I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.^(C) I have been moving from place to place with a tent^(D) as my dwelling.^{(E) 7} Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,^(F) did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd^(G) my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house^(H) of cedar?^(I)”’

⁸ “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,^(J) and appointed you ruler^(K) over my people Israel.^(L)

⁵ I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. ⁶ Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders^[a] whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?^(A)”’