7. "With all his heart my father David wanted to build a temple. He wanted to do it so the Name of the Lord could be there. The Lord is the God of Israel.
8. "But the Lord spoke to my father David. He said, 'With all your heart you wanted to build a temple for my Name. It is good that you wanted to do that.
9. But you will not build the temple. Instead, your son will build the temple for my Name. He is your own flesh and blood.'
10. "The Lord has kept the promise he made. I've become the next king after my father David. Now I'm sitting on the throne of Israel. That's exactly what the Lord promised would happen. I've built the temple for the Name of the Lord. He is the God of Israel.
11. I've placed the ark there. The tablets of the Lord's covenant are inside it. He made that covenant with the people of Israel."
12. Then Solomon stood in front of the Lord's altar. He stood in front of the whole community of Israel. He spread out his hands to pray.
13. He had made a bronze stage. It was seven and a half feet long and seven and a half feet wide. It was four and a half feet high. He had placed it in the center of the outer courtyard. He stood on the stage. Then he got down on his knees in front of the whole community of Israel. He spread out his hands toward heaven.