Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great:

for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.

Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood;

onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stone in abundance.

Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:

The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers.

And who then is willing to my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:

The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers.

And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?

Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly, and gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and then thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord:

and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation:

and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:

for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine;

thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all;

and in thine hand is power and might;

and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?

for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

For we are stranger before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers:

our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

O 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.

I 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.

O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

And 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.

And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God.

And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king.

And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings unto the Lord, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:

And did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladness.

And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the Lord to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.

Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered;

and all Israel obeyed him.

And all princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.

And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years;

seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

And he died in a good old age, fully of days, riches, and honour:

and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

David, Satan, and Araunah

Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel.

David gave orders to Joab and the army officers under him, “Canvass all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and get a count of the population.

I want to know the number.”

Joab resisted: “May GOD multiply his people by hundreds! Don’t they all belong to my master the king? But why on earth would you do a thing like this – why risk getting Israel into trouble with God?”

But David wouldn’t take no for an answer, so Joab went off and did it – canvassed the country and then came back to Jerusalem and reported the results of the census:

They were 1,100,000 fighting men;

of that total, Judah accounted for 470,000.

Joab, disgusted by the command – it, in fact, turned his stomach! – protested by leaving Levi and Benjamin out of the census-taking.

And God, offended by the whole thing, punished Israel.

Then David prayed, “I have sinned badly in what I have just done, substituting statistics for trust;

forgive my sin – I’ve been really stupid.”

God answered by speaking to Gad, David’s pastor: “Go and give David this message:

‘God’s word: You have your choice of three punishments;

choose one and I’ll do the rest.”

Gad delivered the message to David:

“Do you want three years of famine, three months of running from your enemies while they chase you down, or three days of the sword of God – an epidemic unleashed on the country by an angel of God? Think it over and make up your mind. What shall I tell the One who sent me?”

David told Gad, “They’re all terrible! But I’d rather be punished by God whose mercy is great, than fall into human hands.”

(to be completed)

So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it:

and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord .

And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine .

And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord , and to record, and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel:

Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom:

and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps;

but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

Give thanks unto the Lord , call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

Be ye mindful always of his covenant;

the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;

And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;

When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.

And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;

He suffered no man to do them wrong:

yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying , Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Sing unto the Lord , all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

Declare his glory among the heathen;

his marvellous works among all nations.

For great is the Lord , and greatly to be praised:

he also is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the people are idols:

but the Lord made the heavens.

Glory and honour are in his presence;

strength and gladness are in his place.

Give unto the Lord , ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name:

bring an offering, and come before him:

worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Fear before him, all the earth:

the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice:

and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof:

let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.

Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord , because he cometh to judge the earth.

O give thanks unto the Lord ;

for he is good;

for his mercy endureth for ever.

And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever.

And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord .

So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required:

And Obed-edom with their brethren, threescore and eight;

Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:

And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon, To offer burnt offerings unto the Lord upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the Lord , which he commanded Israel;

And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord , because his mercy endureth for ever;

And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God.

And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.

And all the people departed every man to his house:

and David returned to bless his house.

星級爸爸﹕平安的快樂

【明報專訊】快活是什麼？就是看自己小朋友贏了一場球賽，很幼稚嗎？對，幼稚，但平安。

（攝於去年3月跟兒子到巴塞隆拿參加足球訓練時）

「末日」如一服良藥

「末日年」這話題炒足一年，還是有點意義的，起碼讓香港人在炒樓炒股，為供書教學、供樓而賺錢掙扎之餘，喘一口氣——如果今年真是我的餘生，我該如何？

供樓如患前列腺癌

這樣一想，你就發現原來我們平時很少抬頭看天上雲彩、閉眼聽風、低頭看螞蟻搬家，若然沒心思同情自己，你怎會有空閒去同情別人呢？如果不能同情自己，就只能活在別人的標準當中，人家有錢我們就拚命掙錢，別人有車我們就拚命儲錢買車。供房子是香港人的終極目標，我們身體的腎上腺就是為了這任務打拼，終其一生，買樓去，不，供樓去，因為我們買的是一張期貨合約，你只是買了一張首期，餘下的三十年，你只是買了一個責任而已。將來有可能變了供樓是酷刑，但當你死的時候，你就真正解脫了，因為供樓人不是自己而是你的下一代，你的下一代不單要供樓還要供你的骨灰龕，你不是比他更開心快活嗎？有如男人晚年得了前列腺癌，悲者是你得了癌症，喜的是當你死的時候前列腺癌還沒有發作，因為它長得慢，未來供了一個房子就等於得了前列腺癌，只用擔心不用怕，供你不死的，因為死了你還未供完呢！

回望過去 反思該做不該做

如果死不了，或者死過翻生，我們回望過去，有什麼傻事做了而以後應該少做的呢？喬布斯在最後歲月最後悔的不是新產品不夠，而是陪家人的時間不夠，所以死不了多陪家人行山看海，我自己家也當如是。

有些事少做為妙，比如過分專注考試，或強迫小朋友做功課，如果去年是末日，死前你會對小朋友說：「死都要做完功課先」嗎？既然死不了就得過且過，不要做老襯。

末日經驗有如一服良藥，讓我們思考有什麼值得或不值得，不讓眼前短利蒙蔽，說教育吧，那是長遠投資，終身學習，不要為此毁了家庭。

既然死不了，我們也該有點宗教情操，問一問生命是什麼？存在是什麼？價值是什麼？只要有一點點體會，生活就完全不一樣，這一年你該怎過，必先從死裏逃生的角度去審視。

作者為著名導演，愛家爸爸，育有3名兒女

張堅庭 ting56@gmail.com

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Happy New Year to all!!!

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Another news:

新華社評論美經濟炸彈倒數

新華社發表評論稱，美國會雖暫拆除了「財政懸崖」的「定時炸彈」，但將在3月前後將需面對債務上限及預算問題。

以下為評論全文：

「財政懸崖」新年午夜大限過去兩小時之後，美國國會參眾兩院終於拆除了這一「定時炸彈」的引信。驢象兩黨的政治博弈將全球投資者緊張的神經挑戰到極限。

說起來，美國民主、共和兩黨高層既是拆彈專家，也是埋彈專家，因為「財政懸崖」這枚嚴重威脅美國和世界經濟的「定時炸彈」，原本就是他們在一年多前埋下的。小布殊總統時期的全民減稅政策在2012年最後一天到期是既定事實，而兩黨2011年設定1.2萬億美元的十年政府減支計劃時，把計劃啟動日期設在了減稅政策到期後的第一天，即2013年的元旦。

這種「設彈」方式明顯出於政黨利益的考慮。美國國會預算局前局長埃金指出，「財政懸崖」絕非偶然出現，而是驢象兩黨在去年11月大選結果明朗之前，刻意讓這些重要議題在年底「扎堆」，以利於大選後爭取有利於本黨陣營的談判結果。

府會分治時期的低效本是美國政治痼疾，將棘手難題當成皮球踢更是常態。資本市場的走勢向來不是驢象兩黨的核心關切，調動市場、民意等因素為談判服務才是他們的強項。由於妥協意願日漸稀缺，用「定時炸彈」製造市場壓力，往往是兩黨達成政治妥協的關鍵手段。

不容樂觀的是，美國國會山此次在拆彈同時，又設置了多枚「定時炸彈」。新年鐘聲敲響之際，美國聯邦政府舉債額度達到16.4萬億美元的法定上限，財政部的對策是採取「拆東牆、補西牆」的臨時措施維持政府運營約兩個月。這就意味今年3月前後，美國將迎來調高債務上限和解決聯邦政府2013財年下半年預算問題，激烈的黨派博弈預期將在國會山再度上演。

作為全球主要儲備貨幣發行國，美國的國內政治決策必然通過市場外溢產生全球衝擊波，其黨派博弈所造成的政策短視和財政紀律鬆懈等問題，給全球經濟帶來持續的不確定性，使美國的大國地位與其重大決策的效力形成鮮明落差。

美國沒有從「財政懸崖」墜落，但新的「定時炸彈」又開始滴答作響。