5. ‘Ever since I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I didn’t choose any city from the tribes of Israel as a place to build a temple for my name. And I didn’t choose any man to be prince over my people Israel.
6. But now I’ve chosen Jerusalem to be a place for my name; I’ve chosen David to rule my people Israel.’
7. “My father David had his heart set on building a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
8. However, the Lord said to my father David, ‘Since you had your heart set on building a temple for my name, your intentions were good.
9. But you must not build the temple. Instead, your own son will build the temple for my name.’
10. The Lord has kept the promise he made. I’ve taken my father David’s place, and I sit on the throne of Israel as the Lord promised. I’ve built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
11. I’ve put the ark which contains the Lord’s promise to Israel there.”
12. In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of the Lord’s altar. He stretched out his hands ⌊to pray⌋.
13. (Solomon had made a bronze platform 7½ feet long, 7½ feet wide, and 4½ feet high. He put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on the platform, knelt in front of the entire assembly, and stretched out his hands toward heaven.)
14. He said,“Lord God of Israel,there is no god like you in heaven or on earth.You keep your promise of mercy to your servants,who obey you wholeheartedly.
15. You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant.With your mouth you promised it.With your hand you carried it out as it is today.
16. “Now, Lord God of Israel,keep your promise to my father David, your servant.You said, ‘You will never fail to have an heirsitting in front of me on the throne of Israelif your descendants are faithful to meas you have been faithful to me.’
17. “So now, Lord God of Israel,may the promise you made to David, your servant, come true.
18. “Does God really live on earth with people?If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you,then how can this temple that I have built?