1 Chronicles 29

New International Reader’s Version

1 Then King David spoke to the whole community. He said, ‘God has chosen my son Solomon. But Solomon is young. He’s never done anything like this before. The task is huge. This grand and wonderful temple won’t be built for human beings. It will be built for the LORD God.2 With all my riches I’ve done everything I could for the temple of my God. I’ve provided gold for the gold work and silver for the silver work. I’ve provided bronze for the bronze work and iron for the iron work. I’ve given wood for the things that will be made out of wood. I’ve given onyx and turquoise for the settings. I’ve given stones of different colours and all kinds of fine stone and marble. I’ve provided everything in huge amounts.3 With all my heart I want the temple of my God to be built. So I’m giving my personal treasures of gold and silver for it. I’m adding them to everything else I’ve provided for the holy temple.4 I’m giving 110 tonnes of gold and 250 tonnes of pure silver. Cover the walls of the buildings with it.5 Use it for the gold work and the silver work. Use it for everything the skilled workers will do. How many of you are willing to set yourselves apart to the LORD today?’6 Many people were willing to give. They included the leaders of families and the officers of the tribes of Israel. They included the commanders of thousands of men and commanders of hundreds. They also included the officials who were in charge of the king’s work.7 All of them gave to the work on God’s temple. They gave more than 180 tonnes of gold and 360 tonnes of silver. They also gave 650 tonnes of bronze and 3,600 tonnes of iron.8 Anyone who had valuable jewels added them to the treasure for the LORD’s temple. Jehiel was in charge of the temple treasure. He was from the family line of Gershon.9 The people were happy when they saw what their leaders had been willing to give. The leaders had given freely. With their whole heart they had given everything to the LORD. King David was filled with joy.10 David praised the LORD in front of the whole community. He said, ‘LORD, we give you praise. You are the God of our father Israel. We give you praise for ever and ever.11 LORD, you are great and powerful. Glory, majesty and beauty belong to you. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. LORD, the kingdom belongs to you. You are honoured as the one who rules over all.12 Wealth and honour come from you. You are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power. You can give honour and strength to everyone.13 Our God, we give you thanks. We praise your glorious name.14 ‘But who am I? And who are my people? Without your help we wouldn’t be able to give this much. Everything comes from you. We’ve given back to you only what comes from you.15 We are outsiders and strangers in your sight. So were all of our people who lived long ago. Our days on this earth are like a shadow. We don’t have any hope.16 LORD our God, we’ve given more than enough. We’ve provided it to build you a temple where you will put your holy Name. But all of it comes from you. All of it belongs to you.17 My God, I know that you tested our hearts. And you are pleased when we are honest. I’ve given all these things just because I wanted to. When I did it, I was completely honest with you. Your people here have also been willing to give to you. And I’ve been happy to see this.18 LORD, you are the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people for ever. Keep their hearts faithful to you.19 Help my son Solomon serve you with all his heart. Then he will keep your commands and rules. He will do what you require. He’ll do everything to build the grand and wonderful temple I’ve provided for.’20 Then David said to the whole community, ‘Praise the LORD your God.’ So all of them praised the LORD. He’s the God of their people who lived long ago. The whole community bowed low. They fell down flat with their faces towards the ground. They did it in front of the LORD and the king.21 The next day they offered sacrifices to the LORD. They brought burnt offerings to him. They sacrificed 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams and 1,000 male lambs. They also brought the required drink offerings. And they offered many other sacrifices for the whole community of Israel.22 They ate and drank with great joy that day. They did it in front of the LORD. Then they announced a second time that Solomon was king. He was the son of David. They anointed Solomon in front of the LORD. They anointed him to be ruler. They also anointed Zadok to be priest.23 So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD. He ruled as king in place of his father David. Things went well with him. All the people of Israel obeyed him.24 All the officers and warriors promised to be completely faithful to King Solomon. So did all of King David’s sons.25 The LORD greatly honoured Solomon in the sight of all the people. He gave him royal majesty. Solomon was given more glory than any king over Israel ever had before.26 David was king over the whole nation of Israel. He was the son of Jesse.27 He ruled over Israel for 40 years. He ruled for seven years in Hebron and for 33 years in Jerusalem.28 He died when he was very old. He had enjoyed a long life. He had enjoyed wealth and honour. David’s son Solomon became the next king after him.29 The events of King David’s rule from beginning to end are written down. They are written in the records of Samuel, Nathan and Gad, the prophets.30 The records tell all about David’s rule and power. They tell about what happened concerning him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.

1 Chronicles 29

English Standard Version

1 And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. (1Ki 3:7; 1Ch 22:5; 1Ch 29:19)2 So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. (Isa 54:11; Re 21:19)3 Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God:4 3,000 talents[1] of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house,[2] (1Ki 9:28; 1Ch 22:14)5 and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself[3] today to the Lord?”6 Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. (1Ch 27:1; 1Ch 27:25; 1Ch 28:1)7 They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics[4] of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. (Ezr 2:69; Ezr 8:27; Ne 7:70)8 And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. (1Ch 23:8; 1Ch 26:21)9 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. (2Ki 12:4; 2Co 9:7)10 Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. (Lu 1:68)11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. (1Ti 1:17; Re 5:13)12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (1Ki 3:13; 2Ch 1:12; 2Ch 20:6; Ro 11:36)13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.15 For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.[5] (Le 25:23; Job 14:2; Ps 102:11; Ps 144:4)16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. (1Sa 16:7; 1Ch 28:9; Pr 11:20; Pr 17:3)18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.” (1Ch 22:14; 1Ch 29:1; Ps 72:1)20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the Lord and to the king. (Ex 4:31; Jos 22:33)21 And they offered sacrifices to the Lord, and on the next day offered burnt offerings to the Lord, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. (Ge 35:14)22 And they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and they anointed him as prince for the Lord, and Zadok as priest. (1Ki 1:38; 1Ki 2:35; 1Ch 23:1)23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in place of David his father. And he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. (1Ki 2:12; 1Ch 28:5; 2Ch 9:8)24 All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.25 And the Lord made Solomon very great in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. (Jos 3:7; 1Ki 3:13; 2Ch 1:1; 2Ch 1:12; Ec 2:9)26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.27 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. (2Sa 5:4; 1Ki 2:11)28 Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. (Ge 15:15; Ge 25:8; 1Ch 23:1)29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and in the Chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the Chronicles of Gad the seer, (1Sa 9:9; 1Sa 22:5; 2Sa 12:1; 1Ch 26:28)30 with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the circumstances that came upon him and upon Israel and upon all the kingdoms of the countries. (Da 4:23; Da 4:25)