1David assembled all the leaders of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions that served the king, the leaders of the thousands, the leaders of the hundreds, and the leaders of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and to his sons, together with the eunuchs, the mighty men, and every mighty man of strength, to Jerusalem.2Then King David rose to his feet and said, "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. With all my heart I resolved to build a house for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of the feet of our God, and I made preparations to build."3But God said to me, "You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of battles and you have shed blood."4The LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah to provide a leader, and within the house of Judah he chose the house of my father, and among the sons of my father he was pleased to make me reign over all Israel.5From all my sons—for the LORD gave me many sons—he chose Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the LORD's kingdom over Israel.6He said to me, "It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father."7I will establish his kingdom forever if he is resolute to keep my commandments and my judgments as he does this day.8Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, so that you may possess the good land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons after you forever.9And you, Solomon my son, acknowledge the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and a willing spirit, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every intention of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.10Consider now that the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and act.11David gave his son Solomon the plan for the hall, its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, its inner chambers, and the room of the mercy seat.12He also gave him the plan for everything that the Spirit had placed in his mind concerning the courts of the house of the LORD, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries of the dedicated things.13He gave directions for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of service in the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels used in that service.14He specified the weight of gold for the gold articles of every kind of service, and the weight of silver for the silver articles of every kind of service.15He gave the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, lampstand by lampstand, and likewise the weight for the silver lampstands and their lamps, according to the use of each lampstand.16He gave the weight of gold for the tables on which the bread was set, table by table, and likewise silver for the silver tables.17He gave the weight of pure gold for the forks, bowls, and pitchers, and the weight of gold for each gold bowl, and the weight of silver for each silver bowl.18He gave the weight of refined gold for the altar of incense, and the design of the chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.19All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the LORD, all the details of the plan.20David also said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous and carry out the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished."21See, the divisions of the priests and the Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and every willing worker who has skill will help you in every task. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.