¹ Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; ² I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.” ³ While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. ⁴ Then he said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, ⁵ ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. ⁶ But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.` ⁷ “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁸ But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name.