¹Then David said, “This is the house of the LORD God , and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel .”

²David gave orders to gather together the foreigners who were in the land of Israel ; and he set masons to cut dressed stones to build God’s house .

³David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates and for the couplings , and bronze in abundance without weight ,

⁴and cedar trees without number , for the Sidonians and the people of Tyre brought cedar trees in abundance to David .

⁵David said, “Solomon my son is young and tender , and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent , of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will therefore make preparation for it .” So David prepared abundantly before his death .

⁶Then he called for Solomon his son , and commanded him to build a house for the LORD , the God of Israel .

⁷David said to Solomon his son , “As for me , it was in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God .

⁸But the LORD ’s word came to me , saying , ‘You have shed blood abundantly and have made great wars . You shall not build a house to my name , because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight .

⁹Behold , a son shall be born to you , who shall be a man of peace . I will give him rest from all his enemies all around ; for his name shall be Solomon , and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days .

¹⁰He shall build a house for my name ; and he will be my son , and I will be his father ; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever .’

¹¹Now , my son , may the LORD be with you and prosper you , and build the house of the LORD your God , as he has spoken concerning you .

¹²May the LORD give you discretion and understanding , and put you in charge of Israel , so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God .

¹³Then you will prosper , if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD gave Moses concerning Israel . Be strong and courageous . Don’t be afraid and don’t be dismayed .

¹⁴Now , behold , in my affliction I have prepared for the LORD ’s house one hundred thousand talents of gold , one million talents of silver , and bronze and iron without weight ; for it is in abundance . I have also prepared timber and stone; and you may add to them .[#22:14 A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces, so 100,000 talents is about 3 metric tonnes; #22:14 about 30,000 metric tonnes]

¹⁵There are also workmen with you in abundance —cutters and workers of stone and timber , and all kinds of men who are skilful in every kind of work ;

¹⁶of the gold , the silver , the bronze , and the iron , there is no number . Arise and be doing , and may the LORD be with you .”

¹⁷David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son , saying,

¹⁸“Isn’t the LORD your God with you ? Hasn’t he given you rest on every side ? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand ; and the land is subdued before the LORD and before his people .

¹⁹Now set your heart and your soul to follow the LORD your God . Arise therefore , and build the sanctuary of the LORD God , to bring the ark of the LORD ’s covenant and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the LORD ’s name .”