Daily Bread

David’s Prayer

¹⁰ David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

¹⁴ “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?^(F) Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.^{(G) 15} We are foreigners and strangers^(H) in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow,^(I) without hope. ¹⁶ Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. ¹⁷ I know, my God, that you test the heart^(J) and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.^{(K) 18} Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. ¹⁹ And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion^(L) to keep your commands, statutes and decrees^(M) and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”^(N)

²⁰ Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.” So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king.

Solomon Acknowledged as King^(O)

²¹ The next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings to him:^(P) a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.^{(Q) 22} They ate and drank with great joy^(R) in the presence of the Lord that day.

Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the Lord to be ruler and Zadok^(S) to be priest. ²³ So Solomon sat^(T) on the throne^(U) of the Lord as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. ²⁴ All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons,^(V) pledged their submission to King Solomon.

²⁵ The Lord highly exalted^(W) Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor^(X) such as no king over Israel ever had before.^(Y)

The Death of David^(Z)

²⁶ David son of Jesse was king^(AA) over all Israel.^{(AB) 27} He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron^(AC) and thirty-three in Jerusalem.^{(AD) 28} He died^(AE) at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.^(AF)

²⁹ As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer,^(AG) the records of Nathan^(AH) the prophet and the records of Gad^(AI) the seer, ³⁰ together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.