1 Kings 8:9-21

9There was nothing in the Covenant Box, except the two flat stones that Moses had put there at Sinai. That was where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out from Egypt.

10When the priests came out from the Holy Place, a cloud filled the Lord's temple.

11The priests could not do their work to serve the Lord, because of the cloud. The Lord's bright glory filled his temple.

12Then Solomon prayed, ‘Lord, you have said that you live in a dark cloud.

13Now I have built a great temple for you. It is a place where you can live for ever.’

14While all the Israelite people stood there, the king turned round towards them. He prayed that God would bless them.

15He said, ‘Praise the Lord, Israel's God, as he deserves. He has used his power to do what he promised to do for my father David.

16He told David, “I brought my people, the Israelites, out from Egypt. From that time, I have not chosen a city in any of Israel's tribes to build a temple where my people would worship me. Now I have chosen David to rule Israel, my people, as king.”

17My father David wanted very much to build a temple to give honour to the Lord, Israel's God.

18But the Lord said to my father David, “It was good that you wanted to build a temple to give me honour.

19But you will not build the temple. Instead, one of your own sons will build it to give honour to me.”

20Now the Lord has done what he promised to do. I now rule Israel as king on the throne of my father David, as the Lord promised. I have built this temple to give honour to the Lord, Israel's God.

21I have made a place there for the Covenant Box. It contains the covenant that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.’