1. UDavide wabutha zonke izikhulu zakwa-Israyeli, izikhulu zezizwe, nezinduna zezigaba ezazikhonza inkosi, nezinduna zezinkulungwane nezamakhulu, nezinduna zayo yonke imfuyo yenkosi neyamadodana ayo, nezinduna zendlunkulu, namaqhawe, nawo onke amadoda anamandla eJerusalema.
2. UDavide inkosi wayesema ngezinyawo, wathi: “Ngizweni, bafowethu nabantu bakwethu: mina-ke, kwakusenhliziyweni yami ukwakhela umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova indlu yokuphumula neyesenabelo sikaNkulunkulu wethu; ngangizilungiselele ukwakha.
3. Kepha wayesethi uNkulunkulu kimi: ‘Awuyikwakhela igama lami indlu, ngokuba uyindoda yempi, uchithile igazi.’
4. “Kodwa uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli wangikhetha endlini yonke kababa ukuba ngibe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade; ngokuba ukhethile uJuda ukuba abe ngumbusi, nasendlini kaJuda indlu kababa, naphakathi kwamadodana kababa wangenamela mina ukuba angibeke inkosi kwa-Israyeli wonke,
5. nasemadodaneni ami onke, ngokuba uJehova ungiphe amadodana amaningi, ukhethe uSolomoni indodana yami ukuba ahlale esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso kaJehova kwa-Israyeli.
6. Wathi kimi: ‘USolomoni indodana yakho nguye oyakwakha indlu yami namagceke ami, ngokuba ngimkhethile ukuba abe yindodana yami, mina ngibe nguyise.
7. Ngiyakuqinisa umbuso wakhe kuze kube phakade, uma eqinisela ukwenza imiyalo yami nezahlulelo zami njenganamuhla.’
8. “Ngalokho emehlweni abo bonke abakwa-Israyeli, ibandla likaJehova, nasezindlebeni zikaNkulunkulu wethu funani nigcine yonke imiyalo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ukuba nidle leli zwe elihle, nilishiye libe yifa labantwana benu emva kwenu kuze kube phakade.