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.”
12-13. Solomon had made a bronze platform and placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard. The platform was 5 cubits long, 5 cubits wide, and 3 cubits tall. Solomon stood on the platform and faced the Lord’S altar. In front of all the Israelites who were gathered together, Solomon kneeled, spread his hands out toward heaven,
14. and said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep the agreement that you made with your people. You are kind and loyal to those who follow you with all their heart.
15. You made a promise to your servant, my father David, and you kept that promise. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you made it come true today.
16. Now, Lord, God of Israel, keep the other promises you made to your servant David, my father. You said, ‘David, if your sons carefully obey me as you did, you will always have someone from your family ruling the people of Israel.’