And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and from the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us.

Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.”

Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.”

He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”

Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building.

Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.