15. We are only strangers traveling through this world like our ancestors. Our time on earth is like a passing shadow, and we cannot stop it.
16. Lord our God, we gathered all these things to build your Temple. We build it to honor your name. But all these things have come from you. Everything belongs to you.
17. My God, I know that you test people, and that you are happy when people do what is right. I gladly give you all these things with a pure, honest heart. I see your people gathered here, and I see that they are happy about giving these things to you.
18. Lord, you are the God of our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Please help your people plan the right things. Help them be loyal and true to you.
19. And help my son Solomon be true to you. Help him always obey your commands, laws, and rules. Help Solomon do these things. And help him build this Temple that I have planned.”
20. Then David said to all the group of people gathered together, “Now give praise to the Lord your God.” So all the people gave praise to the Lord God, the God their ancestors worshiped. They bowed to the ground to give honor to the Lord and to the king.
21. The next day the people offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord—1000 bulls, 1000 rams, 1000 lambs, and the drink offerings that go with them. They offered these and many other sacrifices to the Lord for all the Israelites.
22. That day the people were very happy as they ate and drank there together with the Lord. And they made David’s son Solomon king the second time. They anointed Solomon to be king, and they anointed Zadok to be priest. They did this in the place where the Lord was.
23. Then Solomon sat on the Lord’S throne as king. Solomon took his father’s place. He was very successful. All the Israelites obeyed him.
24. All the leaders, soldiers, and all of King David’s sons accepted Solomon as king and obeyed him.
25. The Lord made Solomon very great. All the Israelites knew that the Lord was making him great. He gave Solomon the honor that a king should have. No king in Israel before Solomon had such honor.
26-27. David son of Jesse was king over all Israel for 40 years. He was king in the city of Hebron for seven years. Then he was king in the city of Jerusalem for 33 years.