9. There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
10. It came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the Lord’s house,
11. so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the Lord’s glory filled the Lord’s house.
12. Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
13. I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
14. The king turned his face around, and blessed all the assembly of Israel; and all the assembly of Israel stood.
15. He said, “Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David your father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying,
16. ‘Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that my name might be there; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.’
17. “Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
18. But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.
19. Nevertheless, you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.’
20. The Lord has established his word that he spoke; for I have risen up in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
21. There I have set a place for the ark, in which is the Lord’s covenant, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
22. Solomon stood before the Lord’s altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands towards heaven;
23. and he said, “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keeps covenant and loving kindness with your servants, who walk before you with all their heart;
24. who has kept with your servant David my father that which you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.