2 Chronicles 6:5-17

5He told David, “I brought my people out of 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. I have not chosen a man to be the leader of my people, the Israelites.

6But now I have chosen Jerusalem to be the place where my people worship me. And I have chosen David to rule Israel, my people, as king.”

7My father David wanted very much to build a temple to give honour to the Lord, Israel's God.

8But the Lord said to my father David, “It was good that you wanted to build a temple to give me honour.

9But you will not build the temple. Instead, one of your own sons will build it to give honour to me.”

10Now 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.

11I have put the Covenant Box there. It contains the covenant that the Lord made with the Israelites.’

12Then Solomon stood in front of the Lord's altar. All the Israelite people who had come together there could see him. He lifted up his hands to pray.

13He had made a bronze stage to stand on. It was 2.3 metres long, 2.3 metres wide and 1.4 metres high. He put it in the middle of the yard and he stood on it. Then he went down on his knees where all the Israelites could see him. He lifted up his hands towards the sky.

14He prayed, ‘Lord, Israel's God, there is no God like you, either in heaven or on the earth. You continue to do what you have promised to do for your people. You faithfully love those who want to serve you.

15You have done what you promised to do for your servant, my father David. You have used your power to finish today everything that you said you would do.

16Now Lord, Israel's God, there is another promise that you spoke to my father David. I pray that you will do that too. You said to David, “There will always be one of your descendants to rule Israel as my chosen king. But for this to happen, your sons must be careful to obey my law, as you have done.”

17So now Lord, Israel's God, please cause what you promised to your servant David to happen.