2. Lord, I have built a wonderful Temple for you—a place for you to live forever.”
3. While all the Israelites were standing there, King Solomon turned to them and blessed them.
4. Then he said, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He has done what he promised to my father David. The Lord said,
5. ‘Since the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel where a temple will be built for me. I did not choose a man to lead my people Israel.
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 for 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 for me.
9. But you are not the one to build it. Your son, who comes from your own body, is the one who will build my temple.’
10. “Now the Lord has kept his promise. I am the king now in place of David my father. Now I rule Israel as the Lord promised, and I have built the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel.
11. There I have put the Ark, in which is the Agreement the Lord made with the Israelites.”
12. Then Solomon stood facing the Lord’s altar, and all the Israelites were standing behind him. He spread out his hands.
13. He had made a bronze platform seven and one-half feet long, seven and one-half feet wide, and seven and one-half 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 gathered there, and he spread out his hands 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 truly follow you.
15. You have kept the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You spoke it with your own mouth and finished it with your hands today.
16. “Now, Lord, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You said, ‘If your sons are careful to obey my teachings as you have obeyed, there will always be someone from your family ruling Israel.’
17. Now, Lord, God of Israel, please continue to keep that promise you made to your servant.