1Then David said, "This is the house of Yahweh God, and this is where the people of Israel will offer burnt sacrifices."
2David gave orders to gather all the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them as stonecutters to prepare stones for building God's house.
3David also prepared a huge amount of iron for the nails for the gate doors and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed.
4He also gathered countless cedar trees, because the people of Sidon and Tyre brought large quantities of cedar to David.
5David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that needs to be built for Yahweh must be incredibly grand, famous, and glorious in all countries. So, I will make preparations for it." David made extensive preparations before he died.
6Then he called for his son Solomon and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
7David said to his son Solomon, "I wanted to build a house to honor Yahweh my God.
8But Yahweh told me, 'You have shed a lot of blood and fought many wars. You will not build a house in my honor, because you have shed so much blood on the earth in my sight.
9However, you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his time.'
10He will build a house for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom's throne over Israel forever.'
11Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and make you successful, helping you build the house of Yahweh your God, as he promised you.
12May Yahweh give you wisdom and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel, so that you may follow the law of Yahweh your God.
13Then you will succeed if you carefully obey the laws and rules Yahweh gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.
14Look, despite my difficulties, I have prepared an enormous amount for Yahweh’s house: one hundred thousand units of gold, one million units of silver, and bronze and iron in quantities too large to weigh. I have also prepared wood and stone, and you can add to that.
15You also have many workers: stonecutters, stonemasons, carpenters, and all kinds of skilled craftsmen.
16There is an countless amount of gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Get up and get to work, and may Yahweh be with you.”
17David also ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying,
18“Isn’t Yahweh your God with you? Hasn’t he given you peace on every side? Because he has handed over the people of this land to me, and the land is under the control of Yahweh and his people.
19Now commit yourselves completely to Yahweh your God. Therefore, get up and build the sanctuary of Yahweh God, to bring the ark of Yahweh’s covenant and God’s holy items into the house that will be built for Yahweh’s name.”