David realized that the <sc>Lordsc> had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated<n id="1" /> his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.p>

<p class="poetry">May the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel be praised,p> <p class="poetry">in the future and forevermore.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Then all the people said, &#8220;We agree!<n id="2" /> Praise the <sc>Lordsc>!&#8221;p>

I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle<n id="1" /> them there; they will live there and not be disturbed<n id="2" /> anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning<n id="3" />

and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.p> <p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;&#8220;I declare to you that the <sc>Lordsc> will build a dynastic house<n id="1" /> for you!

The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the <sc>Lordsc> with a willing attitude;<n id="1" /> King David was also very happy.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much?<n id="1" /> Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.<n id="2" />

O <sc>Lordsc> God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, maintain the motives of your people and keep them devoted to you.<n id="1" />

He was with David in Pas Dammim<n id="1" /> when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines,

Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say<n id="1" /> to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel,<n id="2" /> &#8216;Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?&#8217;&#8221;&#8217;p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;So now, say this to my servant David: &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies<n id="1" /> says: &#8220;I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd<n id="2" /> to make you a leader of my people Israel.

They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.p>

David told Joab and the leaders of the army,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Go, count the number of warriors<n id="2" /> from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have.&#8221;<n id="3" />

Joab replied, &#8220;May the <sc>Lordsc> make his army<n id="1" /> a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

Joab reported to David the number of warriors.<n id="1" /> In all Israel there were 1,100,000<n id="2" /> sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had 470,000 sword-wielding soldiers.<n id="3" />

David said to Ornan, &#8220;Sell me the threshing floor<n id="1" /> so I can build<n id="2" /> on it an altar for the <sc>Lordsc> &#8211; I&#8217;ll pay top price<n id="3" /> &#8211; so that the plague may be removed<n id="4" /> from the people.&#8221;

He told them,<n id="1" /> &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> your God is with you!<n id="2" /> He has made you secure on every side,<n id="3" /> for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region<n id="4" /> and the region<n id="5" /> is subdued before the <sc>Lordsc> and his people.

<p class="bodytext">King David rose to his feet and said: &#8220;Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a temple where the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s covenant could be placed as a footstool for our God.<n id="1" /> I have made the preparations for building it.

Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites who will perform all the service of God&#8217;s temple. All the willing and skilled men are ready to assist you in all the work and perform their service.<n id="1" /> The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

I know, my God, that you examine thoughts<n id="1" /> and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives<n id="2" /> I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you.