1 Chronicles 28

1And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that served the king by course, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, unto Jerusalem.

1David called a meeting in Jerusalem for all the leaders of Israel: the tribal leaders, the commanders of the divisions serving the king, the captains over thousands and hundreds, the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, along with the palace officials, the influential men, and all the elite warriors.

2Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building.

2King David stood up and said, 'Listen to me, my brothers and my people: I had it in my heart to build a permanent home for the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and for the footstool of our God. I had already made preparations for the building project.'

3But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.

3'But God said to me, "You are not the one to build a house for my name, because you are a warrior and have shed much blood."'

4Howbeit Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel;

4'However, the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my entire family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah to lead, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my father’s family, and among my father’s sons, he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.'

5and of all my sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel.

5'And of all my sons—for the Lord has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.'

6And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

6'He said to me, "Your son Solomon is the one who will build my house and my courtyards, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father."'

7And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day.

7'"I will make his kingdom last forever if he continues to be firm in obeying my commands and my laws, as he is doing today."'

8Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Jehovah, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Jehovah your God; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you for ever.

8'So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God. Then you will keep possession of this good land and leave it as a permanent inheritance to your children after you.'

9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Jehovah searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

9'And you, Solomon my son, learn to know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord searches every heart and understands every thought and motive. If you seek him, you will find him; but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.'

10Take heed now; for Jehovah hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

10'Consider this carefully: the Lord has chosen you to build a house for his sanctuary. Be strong, and get to work.'

11Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porchof the temple, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the mercy-seat;

11{ "text": "Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the porch of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper rooms, its inner rooms, and the place for the atonement cover." },

12and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Jehovah, and for all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;

12He gave him the plans for everything the Spirit had put in his mind: the courtyards of the Lord’s house, all the surrounding rooms, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for the dedicated gifts.

13also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Jehovah;

13He also gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the work of serving in the house of the Lord, and for all the items used in that service.

14of gold by weight for the vessels of gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; of silver for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;

14He specified the weight of gold for all the gold articles used in various types of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles used in various types of service.

15by weight also for the candlesticks of gold, and for the lamps thereof, of gold, by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof; and for the candlesticks of silver, silver by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick;

15He gave the weight for the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, and the weight for the silver lampstands and their silver lamps, according to the purpose of each lampstand.

16and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;

16He specified the weight of gold for each table for the sacred bread, and the weight of silver for the silver tables.

17and the flesh-hooks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;

17He specified the weight of pure gold for the meat forks, the sprinkling bowls, and the pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold bowl; and the weight of silver for each silver bowl.

18and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, even the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.

18He gave the weight for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and the plans for the gold chariot—the cherubim that spread their wings to cover the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant.

19All this, said David, have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah, even all the works of this pattern.

19'All this,' David said, 'the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand on me—all the details of these plans.'

20And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for Jehovah God, even my God, is with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah be finished.

20David also said to his son Solomon, 'Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or abandon you until all the work for the service of the Lord’s house is finished.'

21And, behold, there are the courses of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee in all manner of work every willing man that hath skill, for any manner of service: also the captains and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.

21'The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God. Every willing person with skill in any craft will help you in the work. The leaders and all the people are completely at your command.'