Solomon Blesses the People

6 Then Solomon said, “Yahweh has decided^[a] to dwell in the deep gloom. ² But I have built for you an exalted house, even a place for you to dwell in forever.” ³ Then the king turned around^[b] and blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel were standing. ⁴ And he said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth with David my father, and with his hands he has fulfilled it, saying, ⁵ ‘From the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt I did not choose a city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in order for my name to be there. Nor did I choose a man to be leader over my people Israel. ⁶ But I have chosen my name to be there in Jerusalem, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’ ⁷ Now, it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. ⁸ But Yahweh said to David my father, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart, ⁹ but you yourself will not build the house, but your son who will proceed from your loins; he himself will build the house for my name.’ ¹⁰ Now Yahweh has fulfilled his word that he spoke. I have risen in the place of David my father and am seated on the throne of Israel as Yahweh has spoken. I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. ¹¹ And I have there the ark in which is the covenant of Yahweh that he made^[c] with the Israelites.”^[d]