Solomon Blesses the LORD

(2 Chronicles 6:1–11)

Then Solomon declared:

“ The LORD[fn] has said that He would dwell

in the thick cloud.

13 

I have indeed built You an exalted house,

a place for You to dwell forever.”

14 

And as the whole assembly of Israel stood [there], the king turned around and blessed [them] all 15 and said:

“ Blessed [be] the LORD, the God of Israel, [who] has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying, 16 ‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel [in which] to build a house so that My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

17 

Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 18 But the LORD said to my father David,‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart. 19 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it but your son, your own offspring will build the house for My Name.’

20 

Now the LORD has fulfilled the word that He spoke. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 21 And there I have provided a place for the ark, which contains the covenant of the LORD that He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

22