Daily Bread

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, ⁵ ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. ⁶ But now I have chosen Jerusalem^(C) for my Name^(D) to be there, and I have chosen David^(E) to rule my people Israel.’

⁷ “My father David had it in his heart^(F) to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁸ But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. ⁹ Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’

¹⁰ “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹¹ There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant^(G) of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you^(L) in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love^(M) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. ¹⁵ You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised^(N) and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

¹⁶ “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail^(O) to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law,^(P) as you have done.’ ¹⁷ And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.