Chapter 28

And David assembled⁵⁵ all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered¹⁸ to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.

Then David the king stood up⁴ upon his feet, and said,⁴ Hear³ me, my brethren, and my people: [As for me], I [had] in mine heart to build² an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool ⁷²⁷² of our God, and had made ready⁵² for the building:²

But God said¹ unto me, Thou shalt not build⁴ an house for my name, because thou [hast been] a man of war, and hast shed¹ blood.

Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose⁴ me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen¹ Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked¹ me to make [me] king⁵³ over all Israel:

And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given¹ me many sons,) he hath chosen⁴ Solomon my son to sit² upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

And he said⁴ unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build⁴ my house and my courts: for I have chosen¹ him [to be] my son, and I will be his father.

Moreover I will establish⁵² his kingdom for ever, if he be constant⁴ to do² my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep³ and seek³ for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess⁴ this good land, and leave [it] for an inheritance⁵² for your children after you for ever.

And thou, Solomon my son, know³ thou the God of thy father, and serve³ him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth⁶ all hearts, and understandeth⁵⁶ all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek⁴ him, he will be found¹¹ of thee; but if thou forsake⁴ him, he will cast thee off⁵⁵ for ever.

Take heed³ now; for the LORD hath chosen¹ thee to build² an house for the sanctuary: be strong,³ and do³ [it].

Then David gave⁴ to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,

And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:

Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.

[He gave] of gold by weight for [things] of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; ⁵⁶⁵⁶ [silver also] for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service: ⁵⁶⁵⁶

Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, ⁴⁵⁰¹ and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, [both] for the candlestick, and [also] for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick. ⁴⁵⁰¹

And by weight [he gave] gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; ⁷⁹⁷⁹ and [likewise] silver for the tables of silver:

Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons [he gave gold] by weight for every bason; ³⁷¹³ and [likewise silver] by weight for every bason of silver: ^{3713 3713}

And for the altar of incense refined³⁰ gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out⁶ [their wings], and covered⁶ the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

All [this, said David], the LORD made me understand⁵² in writing by [his] hand upon me, [even] all the works of this pattern.

And David said⁴ to Solomon his son, Be strong³ and of good courage,³ and do³ [it]: fear⁴ not, nor be dismayed:¹¹ for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail⁵⁵ thee, nor forsake⁴ thee, until thou hast finished² all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, [even they shall be with thee] for all the service of the house of God: and [there shall be] with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people [will be] wholly at thy commandment.