Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.

Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.

And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:

Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.

Thus saith the LORD, The heaven {is} my throne, and the earth {is} my footstool: where {is} the house that ye build unto me? and where {is} the place of my rest?

Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.

But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou {hast been} a man of war, and hast shed blood. {blood: Heb. bloods}

And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as {it is} this day. {mercy: or, bounty}

And he said, Blessed {be} the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled {it}, saying,

Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

The LORD {is} my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he {is} my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.