14. “Yet my people and I cannot really give you anything, because everything is a gift from you, and we have only given back what is yours already.
15. You know, O Lord, that we pass through life like exiles and strangers, as our ancestors did. Our days are like a passing shadow, and we cannot escape death.
16. O Lord, our God, we have brought together all this wealth to build a temple to honour your holy name, but it all came from you and all belongs to you.
17. I know that you test everyone's heart and are pleased with people of integrity. In honesty and sincerity I have willingly given all this to you, and I have seen how your people who are gathered here have been happy to bring offerings to you.
18. Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, keep such devotion for ever strong in your people's hearts and keep them always faithful to you.
19. Give my son Solomon a wholehearted desire to obey everything that you command and to build the Temple for which I have made these preparations.”
20. Then David commanded the people, “Praise the Lord your God!” And the whole assembly praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and gave honour to the Lord and also to the king.
21. The following day they killed animals as sacrifices, dedicating them to the Lord, and then gave them to the people to eat. In addition, they sacrificed a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, which they burnt whole on the altar. They also brought the offerings of wine.