1 Chronicles

Retells some stories from Samuel and Kings, focusing on King David and the importance of worship.

Chapter 28

1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.

*David brought together all the important leaders of Israel, including those in charge of the tribes, the company captains who served the king in turns, as well as the leaders over thousands, hundreds, and those in charge of the king's possessions and his sons. He also gathered the officers, powerful men, and brave warriors to meet in Jerusalem.

2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:

*Then King David stood up and said, "Listen to me, my brothers and people. I wanted to build a place to rest the Ark of the Lord's agreement and the footrest of our God. I prepared it for construction."

3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.

*But God told me, "Don't build a place for my name because you're a warrior who has spilled blood."

4 Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:

*But the Lord God of Israel chose me to be their king forever, because He picked Judah to rule. From the family of Judah, He chose my father's household, and from among my brothers, He favored me to become king over all Israel.

5 And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

*Among all my children, (since the LORD has given me lots of kids,) he chose Solomon to be the ruler on the throne for the LORD's kingdom in Israel.

6 And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

*He told me, "Solomon is your son, and he will build my house and courts. I have chosen him to be mine, and I will be his."

7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

*Moreover, I will always keep his kingdom going strong if he follows my rules and decisions just like he does now.

8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.

*So now, in front of all Israel and in the presence of God, obey and follow all of the Lord's commands. Do this so you can own this good land and pass it down to your children forever.

9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

*Solomon, my son, know your father's God and serve Him wholeheartedly with a willing mind. The Lord sees all hearts and understands all thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you turn away from Him, He will reject you forever.

10 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

*Be careful; because the LORD has picked you to construct a building for the holy place. Be strong and do it.

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,

*Then David taught Solomon, his son, the design for the porch and its buildings, the treasuries, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the holy place where the mercy seat was.

12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:

*And the design of everything he had from the spirit, for the courtyards of the Lord's house, and all the rooms around it, of the storage areas of God's house, and of the storage areas of the sacred items:

13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.

*This verse is about providing for the priests and Levites, as well as everything needed for serving in the Lord's house, including all the necessary items.

14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:

*He exchanged gold for gold items based on their weight, for all types of useful tools. He did the same with silver, exchanging it for silver tools by weight, for all kinds of services.

15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.

*The verse says that the gold and silver candlesticks and their lamps were weighed based on how much they were supposed to be. The weight was determined for each individual candlestick and its lamps, depending on its specific use.

16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:

*He weighed gold for the display bread tables and gave it for each one, as well as silver for the silver tables.

17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:

*Additionally, pure gold was used for the meat hooks, bowls, and cups. For the large golden basins, the amount of gold given was based on their weight. The same went for the silver basins, where the amount of silver provided also depended on their weight.

18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

*And for the incense altar, pure gold by weight; also gold for the design of the cherubim's chariot, with wings spread, covering the Lord's agreement box.

19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

*David explained that God taught him through writing, using his own hand, about every detail of this design.

20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

*David told Solomon, his son, "Be brave and confident, and do what you need to do. Don't be afraid or discouraged because God will be with you. He won't let you down or leave you until you finish all the work for God's house."

21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.

*And look, the priests and Levites' schedules will be with you for all the temple's tasks. You'll have any skilled worker who wants to help with anything needed. The leaders and everyone else will listen to your orders completely.

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