2 Chronicles 6:1-11

Expanded Bible

Solomon Speaks to the People

6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord said he would live in the ·dark cloud [thick cloud; thick cloud of darkness]. ² Lord, I have built a ·wonderful [magnificent; glorious; lofty] ·Temple [^Lhouse] for you—a place for you to ·live [dwell] forever.”

³ While all the ·Israelites [^Lcommunity of Israel] were standing there, King Solomon turned to them and blessed them. ⁴ Then he said, “·Praise [Bless] the Lord, the God of Israel. He has ·done [^Lfulfilled with his hand] what he ·promised [spoke] to my father David [2 Sam. 7:1–16]. The Lord said, ⁵ ‘Since the ·time [^Lday] I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel where a ·Temple [^Lhouse] will be built for ·me [^Lmy name to be there]. I did not choose a man to ·lead [rule] my people Israel. ⁶ But now I have chosen Jerusalem ·as the place I am to be worshiped [^Lfor my name to be], and I have chosen David to ·lead [rule] my people Israel.’

⁷ “My father David wanted to build a ·Temple [^Lhouse] for ·the [^Lthe name of the] Lord, the God of Israel. ⁸ But the Lord said to my father David, ‘·It was good that you [You did well to have] wanted to build a ·Temple [^Lhouse] for me. ⁹ But you are not the one to build it. Your son, who ·comes from your own body [will be born to you], is the one who will build ·my Temple [^Lthe house for my name].’

¹⁰ “Now the Lord has ·kept his promise [^Lestablished the word he spoke]. I am the king now in place of David my father. Now I ·rule [^Lsit on the throne of] Israel as the Lord promised, and I have built the ·Temple [^Lhouse] for ·the [^Lthe name of the] Lord, the God of Israel. ¹¹ There I have put the Ark, in which is the ·Agreement [covenant; treaty] the Lord made with the ·Israelites [people of Israel].”