5. ‘I brought my people out of Egypt. But I have not yet chosen a city in any tribe of Israel for my temple. This is where I have chosen to be worshiped. I have not chosen a man to lead my people, the Israelites.
6. But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place I am to be worshiped. And I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’
7. “My father David wanted to build a temple as a place to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.
8. But the Lord said to my father, ‘David, it was good that you wanted to build a temple as a place to worship me.
9. But you are not the one who will build the temple. Your own son will build my temple.’
10. “Now the Lord has kept his promise. I have taken my father David’s place. Now I am Israel’s king. This is what the Lord promised. And I have built the Temple where the Lord, the God of Israel, will be worshiped.
11. I have put the Ark of the Covenant there. The agreement that the Lord made with the people of Israel is kept in the Ark of the Covenant.”
12. Solomon stood in front of the Lord’s altar. He was standing before all the people gathered there. Then he spread his arms out.
13. He had made a bronze platform. It was 7½ feet long, 7½ feet wide and 7½ feet high. And he had placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard. Solomon stood on the platform. Then he kneeled in front of all the people of Israel who were gathered there. Solomon spread his hands out toward the sky.
14. He said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your agreement of love with your servants who completely obey you.
15. You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant. With your words you made a promise. And with the work of your hands, you have made that promise come true today.
16. “Now, Lord, God of Israel, also keep this promise you made to my father David, your servant. You said, ‘David, you will always have someone from your family rule Israel. But this will happen only if they are careful to obey my teachings in everything they do. They must obey my teachings just as you have.’
17. Now, Lord, God of Israel, keep your promise. Let this promise to your servant David come true.
18. “But, God, can you really live here on the earth with people? Not even the highest of heavens can hold you. And this Temple I built cannot hold you.
19. But pay attention to my prayer and my cry for mercy. Lord my God, listen to my cry. Listen to the prayer I, your servant, pray to you.
20. I pray that you will watch over this Temple day and night. You said you would make this the place to worship you. I pray that you will hear my prayers when I pray facing this Temple.