1 UDavide wabutha zonke izikhulu zakwa-Israyeli, izikhulu zezizwe, nezinduna zezigaba ezazikhonza inkosi, nezinduna zezinkulungwane nezamakhulu, nezinduna zayo yonke imfuyo yenkosi neyamadodana ayo, nezinduna zendlunkulu, namaqhawe, nawo onke amadoda anamandla eJerusalema.
2 UDavide inkosi wayesema ngezinyawo, wathi: “Ngizweni, bafowethu nabantu bakwethu: mina-ke, kwakusenhliziyweni yami ukwakhela umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova indlu yokuphumula neyesenabelo sikaNkulunkulu wethu; ngangizilungiselele ukwakha.
3 Kepha wayesethi uNkulunkulu kimi: ‘Awuyikwakhela igama lami indlu, ngokuba uyindoda yempi, uchithile igazi.’
4 “Kodwa uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli wangikhetha endlini yonke kababa ukuba ngibe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade; ngokuba ukhethile uJuda ukuba abe ngumbusi, nasendlini kaJuda indlu kababa, naphakathi kwamadodana kababa wangenamela mina ukuba angibeke inkosi kwa-Israyeli wonke,
5 nasemadodaneni ami onke, ngokuba uJehova ungiphe amadodana amaningi, ukhethe uSolomoni indodana yami ukuba ahlale esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso kaJehova kwa-Israyeli.
6 Wathi kimi: ‘USolomoni indodana yakho nguye oyakwakha indlu yami namagceke ami, ngokuba ngimkhethile ukuba abe yindodana yami, mina ngibe nguyise.
7 Ngiyakuqinisa umbuso wakhe kuze kube phakade, uma eqinisela ukwenza imiyalo yami nezahlulelo zami njenganamuhla.’