1 Chronicles

And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.

1David called all the leaders of Israel to come to Jerusalem. He called the leaders of the tribes, the big family groups. He called the leaders of the groups who took turns serving the king. He called the officers over a thousand soldiers and over a hundred soldiers. He called the men who cared for everything the king and his sons owned. He also called the palace officials and all the strong, brave soldiers.

2Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:

2Then King David stood up and said: "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a house. It would be a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the LORD. The ark was the gold box that held God's agreement with Israel. The house would be like a footstool for our God. I got everything ready to build it."

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

3"But God said to me, 'You will not build a house for my name. You are a man of war, and you have spilled blood.'"

4Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:

4"Even so, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of my whole family. He made me king over Israel forever. He chose the tribe of Judah to lead. From Judah he chose my father's family. From my father's sons, he was pleased to make me king over all Israel."

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

5"The LORD has given me many sons. Out of all of them, he chose my son Solomon. Solomon will sit on the throne of the LORD's kingdom 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"God said to me, 'Your son Solomon will build my house and my courtyards. I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.'"

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

7"'I will make his kingdom last forever, if he keeps doing what I command. He must keep obeying my rules, the way he is doing today.'"

8Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.

8"So now, in front of all Israel, the LORD's gathered people, and with our God listening, I say this. Obey and follow all the commands of the LORD your God. Then you will keep this good land. You will pass it on to your children forever."

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 the LORD 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, know the God of your father. Serve him with your whole heart and with a willing mind. The LORD looks into every heart. He understands every thought a person has. If you look for him, you will find him. But if you turn away from him, he will turn you away forever."

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

10"Think about this now. The LORD has chosen you to build a house for his holy place. Be strong, and do it."

11Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,

11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the temple. They showed the covered entry, the buildings, and the storage rooms. They showed the upper rooms and the inner rooms. They also showed the room for the mercy seat, the gold cover on top of the ark.

12And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:

12The plans showed everything David had in his mind. They showed the courtyards of the house of the LORD. They showed all the rooms around it. They showed the rooms for treasure, and for the gifts given to God.

13Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.

13The plans also showed how the priests and Levites would take turns working. Priests led the worship, and Levites helped them. The plans showed all the work to be done in the LORD's house. They showed all the tools and dishes used there.

14He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:

14David said how much gold to use for each gold object. He did this for every tool used in the work. He also said how much silver to use for each silver object.

15Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.

15He said how much gold to use for the lampstands and their lamps. He gave the weight for each lampstand and for its lamps. He did the same for the silver lampstands and their lamps. Each weight matched the way that lampstand would be used.

NoteThe King James Bible says "candlesticks," but these held small oil lamps, not candles. They were tall stands for lamps.

16And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:

16He said how much gold to use for each table that held the special bread. He also said how much silver to use for the silver tables.

NoteThe "shewbread" was special bread kept on a table inside God's house.

17Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:

17He said how much pure gold to use for the forks, the bowls, and the pitchers. He gave the weight of gold for each gold dish. He gave the weight of silver for each silver dish.

Note"Fleshhooks" were large forks used to lift meat. "Basons" were bowls or dishes.

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

18He said how much fine gold to use for the altar where sweet-smelling incense was burned. He also gave the plans for the gold chariot. It was made of cherubim, winged creatures, with their wings spread over the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

19All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

19David said, "The LORD made me understand all of this. He put it in writing, with his hand on me. Every part of the plan came from him."

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

20David said to his son Solomon: "Be strong and brave, and do the work. Do not be afraid. Do not give up. The LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or leave you. He will stay with you until all the work on the LORD's house is done."

21And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.

21"Look, the groups of priests and Levites are ready. They will help with all the work in God's house. Every willing, skilled worker will help you with any job. The leaders and all the people will do whatever you say."