1 Then David said, “This place is the house of the LORD God {YHWH haElohim, Divine Dweller}, and this is the altar for burnt offering {mizbe’akh: place of sacrifice} for Israel.”
2 And David commanded that all the foreigners {gerim: resident aliens} in the land of Israel be gathered, and he appointed stonecutters to cut hewn stones for building the house of God {ha-Elohim, Worship Center}.
3 And David prepared iron in abundance for nails for the doors {daltot: hinged barriers for entryways} of the gates and for the joinings {mechab'rot: connecting pieces joining structures}, and he prepared bronze in abundance—beyond weighing.
4 Cedar wood {arazim: durable timbers} was beyond counting, for the Sidonians and the Tyrians brought large amounts of cedar to David {David: beloved monarch}.
5 And David said, “Solomon my son is young and tender {na'ar: inexperienced}, and the house to be built for the LORD {YHWH, Worship Recipient} must be made extraordinarily magnificent, bringing honor and glory across all the lands. Therefore I will prepare it.” So David prepared abundantly before his death.
6 Then he summoned Solomon his son and charged {ṣavah: royal commission} him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisrael, National Protector}.
7 And David said to Solomon his son, “My son, I had it in my heart {levav: inner resolve} to build a house for the Name {shem: divine reputation} of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Name Revealer} my God {Elohai, Personal Deity}.”
8 And the word of the LORD {YHWH, Holy Temple-Chooser} came to me, saying, “You have shed blood in abundance, and you have done great wars. You shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood {damim: violent bloodguilt} on the earth before Me.”
9 Behold, a son will be born to you; he will be a man of rest, and I {YHWH, Promise Giver} will give him rest from all the enemies around him. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace {shalom: wholeness} upon Israel in his days.
10 He will build a house {bayit: dedicated sanctuary} for My {YHWH, Name-Honored King} name, and he will be to Me as a son, and I will be to him as a father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.
11 Now, my son, may the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Blesser} be with you; may you prosper {hitsliakh: to succeed by divine favor} and build the house of the LORD your God, as He has spoken concerning you.
12 May the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign King} grant you wisdom {sekhel: judicial insight} and understanding and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law {torat: covenant statute} of the LORD your God {Elohekha, Covenant Lord}.
13 Then you will succeed if you carefully observe and do the decrees and the judgments that the LORD {YHWH, Law Giver} commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous; do not fear {tira: be afraid}, and do not be discouraged.
14 And now, in my trouble {oni: hardship} I have prepared for the house of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Upholder} one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there was so much. I have prepared wood and stones, and you will add to them.
15 Also with you are many workers {osei: skilled individuals}: stonecutters, craftsmen of stone and wood, and every skilled person {khakham: adept artisan} for every kind of work.
16 Gold, silver, bronze, and iron—there is no number {mispar: fixed total}. Rise up and do the work, and may the LORD {YHWH, Empowering Presence} be with you.
17 Then David commanded all the princes {sarei: royal officials} of Israel to support his son Solomon {Shlomo: chosen successor}.
18 Is not the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikhem: Covenant Sustainer} with you? And has He not given you rest {heniakh: settled reassurance} from every direction? 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.
19 Now set your heart {levav: inner person} and your soul to seek the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikhem, God Who Is Sought}, and arise and build the sanctuary {mikdash: sacred dwelling} of the LORD God {YHWH haElohim, Holy Dwelling}, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God into the house that is being built for the name of the LORD.