12Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.

13I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever."

14Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood.

15And he said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying,

16'Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there. But I chose David to be over my people Israel.'

17Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

18But the LORD said to David my father, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.

19Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.'

20Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

21And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."