1 Chronicles 29 ICB

Gifts for Building the Temple

1 King David spoke to all the Israelites who were gathered. He said, “God chose my son Solomon. Solomon is young and hasn’t yet learned what he needs to know. But the work is important. This palace is not for people. It is for the Lord God.

2 I have done my best to prepare for building the Temple of God. I have given gold for the things made of gold. I have given silver for the things made of silver. I have given bronze for the things made of bronze. I have given iron for the things made of iron. I have given wood for the things made of wood. I have given onyx for the settings and turquoise. I have given gems of many different colors. I have given valuable stones and white marble. I have given much of all these things.

3 I have already given this for the Temple. But now I am also giving my own treasures of gold and silver. I am doing this because I really want the Temple of my God to be built.

4 I have given about 220,000 pounds of pure gold from Ophir. And I have given about 520,000 pounds of pure silver. They will be used to cover the walls of the buildings.

5 They will also be used for all the gold and silver work. Skilled men may use the gold and silver to make things for the Temple. Now, who is ready to give himself to the service of the Lord today?”

6 The family leaders and the leaders of the tribes of Israel gave their valuable things. The commanders of 1,000 men and of 100 men gave their valuable things. And the leaders responsible for the king’s work gave their valuable things.

7 These are the things they gave for the Temple of God: about 380,000 pounds of gold, about 750,000 pounds of silver, about 1,350,000 pounds of bronze and about 7,500,000 pounds of iron.

8 People who had valuable gems gave them to the treasury of the Temple of the Lord. Jehiel, from the Gershon family, took care of the valuable gems.

9 The leaders gave freely and completely to the Lord. The people were happy to see their leaders give so gladly. King David was also very happy.

David’s Prayer

10 David praised the Lord in front of all of the people who were gathered. He said:“We praise you, Lord.You are the God of our father Israel.We praise you forever and ever.

11 Lord, you are great and powerful.You have glory, victory and honor.Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you.The kingdom belongs to you, Lord.You are the ruler over everything.

12 Riches and honor come from you.You rule everything.You have the power and strengthto make anyone great and strong.

13 Now, our God, we thank you.And we praise your glorious name.

14 “These things did not really come from me and my people.Everything comes from you.We have given you back what you gave us.

15 We are like foreigners and strangers.All our ancestors were also foreigners and strangers.Our time on earth is like a shadow.There is no hope.

16 Lord our God, we have gathered all this to build your Temple.We will build it for worship to you.But everything has come from you.Everything belongs to you.

17 I know, my God, that you test people’s hearts.You are happy when people do what is right.I was happy to give all these things.I gave with an honest heart.Your people gathered here are happy to give to you.I am happy to see their giving.

18 Lord, you are the God of our ancestors.You are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.Please help your people to want to serve you always.And help them to want to obey you always.

19 Give my son Solomon a strong desire to serve you.Help him always obey your commands, laws and rules.Help him build the Templefor which I have prepared.”

20 Then David said to all the people who were gathered, “Praise the Lord your God.” So they all praised the Lord, the God their ancestors worshiped. They bowed to the ground to give honor to the Lord and the king.

Solomon Becomes King

21 The next day the people made sacrifices to the Lord. They offered burnt offerings to him. They offered 1,000 bulls, 1,000 male sheep and 1,000 male lambs. They also brought drink offerings. Many sacrifices were made for all the people of Israel.

22 That day the people ate and drank with much joy. And the Lord was with them.And they made David’s son Solomon king for the second time. They poured olive oil on Solomon to appoint him king. And they poured oil on Zadok to appoint him as priest. They did this in the presence of the Lord.

23 Then Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king. He took his father David’s place. Solomon was very successful. And all the people of Israel obeyed him.

24 All the leaders and soldiers and King David’s sons accepted Solomon as king. They promised to obey him.

25 The Lord made Solomon great before all the Israelites. The Lord gave Solomon much honor. No king of Israel before Solomon had such honor.

David’s Death

26 David son of Jesse was king over all Israel.

27 He was king for 40 years. He ruled in the city of Hebron for 7 years. And he ruled in Jerusalem for 33 years.

28 David died when he was old. He had lived a good, long life. He had received many riches and honors. And David’s son Solomon became king after him.

29 Everything King David did as king, from beginning to end, is recorded. Those things are written in the records of Samuel the seer. And they are in the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer.

Chapters

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