The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation

Of David.

David’s Charge to Israel

1 David assembled at Jerusalem ⁿall the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the stewards of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the ^omighty men and all the seasoned warriors. 2 Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it ^pin my heart to build a house of rest ^qfor the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the ^rfootstool of our God, and ^sI made preparations for building. 3 But God said to me, ^t‘You may not build a house ^ufor my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 Yet the Lord God of Israel ^vchose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose ^wJudah as leader, and in the house of Judah ^xmy father’s house, and ^yamong my father’s sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me ^zmany sons) ^ahe has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 He said to me, ^b‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever ^cif he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.’ 8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

David’s Charge to Solomon

9 “And you, Solomon my son, ^dknow the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. ^eIf you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”

11 Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the ^fvestibule of the temple,¹ and of its houses, its treasuries, its ^gupper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the ^hmercy seat; 12 and the plan of all that he had in mind for the ⁱcourts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding ^jchambers, the ^ktreasuries of the house of God, and the ^ltreasuries for dedicated gifts; 13 for the ^mdivisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord, 14 the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, 15 the weight of the golden ⁿlampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service, 16 the weight of gold for each ^otable for the showbread, the silver for the silver tables, 17 and pure gold for the forks, the ^pbasins and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each; 18 for the ^qaltar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the ^rcherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 19 “All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan.”

20 Then David said to Solomon his son, ^s“Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is ^twith you. ^uHe will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. 21 And behold the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.”

Children and Parents

1 ⁿChildren, ^oobey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 ^p“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 ^qFathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ^rbring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

5 ^sBondservants,^{1 t}obey your earthly masters² with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, ^uas you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this ^vhe will receive back from the Lord, ^wwhether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is ^xboth their Master³ and yours is in heaven, and that there is ^yno partiality with him.

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, ^zbe strong in the Lord and in the ^astrength of his might. 11 ^bPut on the ^cwhole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the ^drulers, against the authorities, against the ^ecosmic powers over this present ^fdarkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the ^gheavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the ^hevil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the ⁱbelt of truth, and having put on the ^jbreastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as ^kshoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the ^lshield of faith, with which you can ^mextinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the ⁿhelmet of salvation, and the ^osword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 ^ppraying ^qat all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, ^rkeep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and ^salso for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth ^tboldly to proclaim the ^umystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ^vambassador ^win chains, that I may declare it boldly, ^xas I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

21 ^ySo that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, ^zTychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may ^aencourage your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brothers,⁴ and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.