This temple will be destroyed. Every person who sees it will be amazed. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do this terrible thing to this land and to this temple?’
King David said to all the people of Israel that were gathered together, “God chose my son Solomon. Solomon is young and does not know all that he needs to do this work. But the work is very important. This house isn’t for people, this house is for the Lord God.
And help my son Solomon be true to you.\par Help him always obey your commands, laws, and rules.\par Help Solomon to do these things.\par and help him build this capital city\par that I have planned.”\par
The porch in front of the temple was 20 cubits {\cf2\super [28]} long and 20 cubits high. {\cf2\super [29]} Solomon covered the inside of the porch with pure gold.
Look up to the heavens!\par Look around you at the earth below!\par The skies will disappear\par like clouds of smoke.\par The earth will become\par like worthless old clothes.\par The people on earth will die,\par but my Salvation will continue forever.\par My goodness will never end.\par
The Lord raises poor people from the dust.
He takes away their sadness. [22] The Lord makes poor people important.
He seats them with princes
and at the places for honored guests.
The Lord made the whole world!
And the whole world belongs to him! [23]