1 Chronicles 22

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

2David ordered the resident foreigners in the land of Israel to be gathered, and he appointed stonecutters to cut dressed stones for building the house of God. 3David prepared iron in abundance for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, and bronze beyond weighing. 4He also prepared cedar logs beyond number, for the Sidonians and the Tyrians brought cedar logs to David in abundance.

5David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly great, renowned and splendid in all lands. So I will now make preparations for it.” Thus David made abundant preparations 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, “My son, it was in my heart to build a house for the name of the LORD my God. 8But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and fought great wars. You will not build a house for my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth before me. 9Look, a son will be born to you. He will be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies around him. For Solomon will be his name, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10He will build a house for my name. He will be a son to me, and I will be a father to him, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11“Now, my son, may the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed and build the house of the LORD your God, as he spoke concerning you. 12Only may the LORD give you insight and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the instruction of the LORD your God. 13Then you will succeed, if you carefully observe the statutes and the judgments that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed. 14“Look, through my hardship I have prepared for the house of the LORD one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for they are in abundance. I have also prepared timber and stone, and you must add to them. 15You have workers in abundance: stonecutters, and craftsmen of stone and wood, and every skilled person for every kind of work. 16Gold, silver, bronze, and iron are beyond number. Rise up and act, and may the LORD be with you.”

17David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son:

18“Has not the LORD your God been with you, and given you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land has been subdued before the LORD and before his people. 19Now set your heart and your whole being to seek the LORD your God. Rise up and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God into the house built for the name of the LORD.”