1 Kings 8:12-21

New Century Version

Solomon Speaks to the People

¹² Then Solomon said, “The Lord said he would live in a dark cloud. ¹³ Lord, I have truly built a wonderful Temple for you—a place for you to live forever.”

¹⁴ While all the Israelites were standing there, King Solomon turned to them and blessed them.

¹⁵ Then he said, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He has done what he promised to my father David. The Lord said, ¹⁶ ‘Since the time I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel where a temple will be built for me. But I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’

¹⁷ “My father David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁸ But the Lord said to my father David, ‘It was good that you wanted to build a temple for me. ¹⁹ But you are not the one to build it. Your son, who comes from your own body, is the one who will build my temple.’

²⁰ “Now the Lord has kept his promise. I am the king now in place of David my father. Now I rule Israel as the Lord promised, and I have built the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. ²¹ I have made a place there for the Ark, in which is the Agreement the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”