¹⁴But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able¹ to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own² have we given thee. ¹ Hebrew _retain strength_. ² Hebrew _of thine hand_. =14.= _be able_] Literally _retain strength_. David praises God for the great success of the efforts of so transitory a creature as man. _of thine own_] Literally _out of thine hand_, compare margin. ¹⁵For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding¹. ¹⁶O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. ¹⁷I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. ¹ Hebrew _hope_. =15.= _strangers before thee, and sojourners_] David describes himself and his people not as strangers _to_ God, but as strangers _dwelling before_ God. In ancient states foreigners were sometimes allowed to reside in the capital under the immediate protection of the king or of the heads of the state; compare 1 Samuel xxii. 3, 4, xxvii. 3; 2 Samuel xv. 19; compare also the position of the aliens at Athens. David appeals to God on the ground that Israel is immediately under God’s protection. Compare Psalms xxxix. 12. _no abiding_] Or, as margin, _hope_; i.e. no continuance, no hopeful expectation, apart from the favour of Jehovah. ¹⁸O LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare¹ their heart unto thee: ¹ Or, _establish_. =18.= _in the imagination_] Render, =as the imagination=. _Imagination_ here means not the faculty, but the result of the exercise of the faculty, a _mental image_ or _impression_. _prepare_] Better, as margin, =establish=. David prays that the people may continue in their present mind. ¹⁹and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision. =19.= _a perfect heart_] See xxviii. 9, note. _the palace_] See verse 1, note. =20‒22.= THE GREAT REJOICING. ²⁰And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king. =20.= _worshipped_] i.e. prostrated themselves.