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.