 1 Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. 2 David commanded the strangers in the land of Israel to be gathered. He set masons to cut squared stones to build the house of God. 3 David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates and for the couplings and bronze in abundance without weight. 4 Also cedar trees without number. For the Sidonians and the Tyrians brought in cedar trees in abundance to David. 5 David said, Solomon my son is young and tender and the house to be built for the Lord is to be highly magnificent. For a name and for beauty to all the lands. I will now prepare for it. David prepared abundantly before his death. 6 He called for Solomon his son and commanded him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. 8 But the Word of the Lord came to me saying, You have shed much blood and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9 Behold, a son will be born to you who will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He will be my son and I will be his father and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever. 11 Now my son, may the Lord be with you and bless you. Build the house of the Lord your God as He has said of you. 12 May the Lord give you wisdom and understanding and direct you concerning Israel so that you keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will prosper if you fulfil the statutes and judgments that the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not fear. Do not be dismayed. 14 In my trouble I have prepared 100,000 talents of gold for the house of the Lord, and a million talents of silver, and of bronze and iron without weight, for it is in abundance. I have prepared timber also, and stone. You may add to them. 15 There are many workmen with you, cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of skillful men for every kind of work. 16 Of the gold, the silver, and the bronze, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and may the Lord be with you. 17 David commanded all the rulers of Israel to help Solomon his son saying, 18 Is not the Lord your God with you? Has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the people of the land into my hand. The land is humbled before the Lord and before His people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Arise therefore and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.
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