1. Then Solomon said, “The Lord chose to live in a dark cloud.
2. But, Lord, I have built a beautiful house for you to live in forever.”
3. King Solomon turned around and blessed all the Israelites gathered in front of him.
4. He said, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has done what he promised my father David. The Lord said,
5. ‘I led Israel out of Egypt long ago. And in all that time, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel for a place to build a house for my name. I have not chosen a man to lead my people, the people of Israel.
6. But now I have chosen Jerusalem as a place for my name, and I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’
7. “My father David wanted to build a temple for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
8. But the Lord said to my father, ‘David, it is good that you want to build a temple for my name,
9. but you cannot build the Temple. Your son will build the Temple for my name.’
10. Now, the Lord has done what he said he would do. I am the new king in my father’s place. David was my father. Now I am Israel’s king. That is what the Lord promised, and I have built the Temple for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
11. I have put the Box of the Agreement in the Temple. The Lord’S Agreement with Israel is in that box.”