1 Chronicles 29

Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.

1King David spoke to all the people gathered there. He said, "God has chosen my son Solomon. Solomon is young and still has much to learn. The work is very big. This great house is not for a man. It is for the LORD God."

2Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

2"I worked as hard as I could to get things ready. I gathered gold for the gold parts and silver for the silver parts. I gathered bronze, iron, and wood for their parts too. I also gathered onyx stones, colored stones, and all kinds of costly stones. And I gathered lots of marble."

3Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

3"I love the house of my God. So I am also giving my own gold and silver. This is extra, on top of all I already got ready for the holy house."

4Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:

4"I am giving three thousand talents of gold from the land of Ophir. I am also giving seven thousand talents of pure silver. These will cover the walls of the buildings."

NoteA talent was a very heavy weight, about 75 pounds. Ophir was a faraway land known for its fine gold.

5The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

5"The gold is for gold work, and the silver is for silver work. Skilled workers will make it all." Then David asked, "Who will give himself to the LORD today?"

6Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly,

6So the leaders of the families gave gladly. The officers of the tribes gave too. So did the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. So did the men in charge of the king's work.

7And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

7For the work on God's house they gave five thousand talents of gold. They also gave ten thousand gold coins. They gave ten thousand talents of silver and eighteen thousand talents of bronze. And they gave one hundred thousand talents of iron.

NoteThe old word here is "drams." These were gold coins called darics.

8And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

8Anyone who had costly stones gave them for the LORD's house. A man named Jehiel, from the family of Gershon, took care of them.

9Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

9The people were happy because their leaders gave so freely. They gave to the LORD with their whole hearts. King David was very happy too.

10Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

10David praised the LORD in front of all the people. He said, "We praise you, LORD, the God of our father Israel. We praise you forever and ever."

11Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

11"LORD, you are great and strong and full of glory and shining beauty. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. The kingdom is yours, LORD. You are lifted up as the head over all."

12Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

12"Riches and honor come from you. You rule over everything. Power and strength are in your hands. You can make anyone great and strong."

13Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

13"So now, our God, we thank you. We praise your wonderful name."

14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

14"But who am I? And who are my people? How could we give so much? Everything comes from you. We only gave you what was already yours."

15For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

15"We are like visitors here with you, just as our fathers were. Our days on earth are like a shadow. Nothing here stays."

16O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.

16"LORD our God, we gathered all this to build you a house for your holy name. But it all came from your hand. It all belongs to you."

17I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

17"My God, I know you look inside people's hearts. You are glad when people are honest. I gave all these things gladly, with an honest heart. Now I see your people here giving to you gladly too. That makes me happy."

18O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

18"LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, please keep this wish in your people's hearts forever. Turn their hearts toward you."

19And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

19"Give my son Solomon a whole heart to obey you. Help him keep your commands, your rules, and your laws. Help him do all these things and build the great house I got ready for."

20And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

20Then David said to all the people, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed their heads low to honor the LORD and the king.

21And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:

21The next day they gave animals to the LORD as gifts. They brought a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs. They also poured out drink offerings and gave many more gifts for all Israel.

22And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.

22That day they ate and drank with great joy before the LORD. Then they made David's son Solomon king a second time. They poured oil on him to show he was chosen as ruler. They chose Zadok to be the priest.

NotePouring oil on someone's head was the way a new king was chosen and shown to everyone.

23Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.

23So Solomon sat on the LORD's throne as king in place of his father David. Things went well for him. All Israel obeyed him.

24And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

24All the leaders and the strong soldiers promised to obey King Solomon. All of King David's other sons promised too.

25And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

25The LORD made Solomon very great in front of all Israel. He gave Solomon more royal honor than any king in Israel before him.

26Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.

26David, the son of Jesse, was king over all Israel.

27And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

27He was king over Israel for forty years. He ruled seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

28And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

28He died when he was very old. He had a long life, much wealth, and much honor. Then his son Solomon became king.

29Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,

29The things King David did, from first to last, are written down. They are in the books of Samuel the seer, a man who saw messages from God. They are also in the books of Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.

30With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

30Those books tell about his whole time as king and how strong he was. They tell what happened to him, to Israel, and to the kingdoms around them.