9. There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb. It was there that the Lord made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
10. Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the Lord’s temple.
11. The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lord’s glory filled his temple.
12. Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness.
13. O Lord, truly I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.”
14. Then the king turned around and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.
15. He said, “The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled what he promised my father David.
16. He told David, ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live. But I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’
17. Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel.
18. The Lord told my father David, ‘It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me.
19. But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.’
20. The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David’s place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built this temple for the honor of the Lord God of Israel
21. and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
22. Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward the sky.
23. He prayed: “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You maintain covenantal loyalty to your servants who obey you with sincerity.
24. You have kept your word to your servant, my father David; this very day you have fulfilled what you promised.