| | 1 | Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, | |
| | 2 | that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains." | |
| | 3 | Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you." | |
| | 4 | But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, | |
| | 5 | "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? | |
| | 6 | "For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. | |
| | 7 | "Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"' | |
| | 8 | "Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. | |
| | 9 | "And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. | |
| | 10 | "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, | |
| | 11 | "since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. | |
| | 12 | "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. | |
| | 13 | "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. | |
| | 14 | "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. | |
| | 15 | "But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. | |
| | 16 | "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."'" | |
| | 17 | According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. | |
| | 18 | Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: "Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? | |
| | 19 | "And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? | |
| | 20 | "Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant. | |
| | 21 | "For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. | |
| | 22 | "Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. | |
| | 23 | "And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name--and to do for Youself great and awesome deeds for Your land--before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? | |
| | 24 | "For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God. | |
| | 25 | "Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. | |
| | 26 | "So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.' And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. | |
| | 27 | "For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. | |
| | 28 | "And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. | |
| | 29 | "Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever." | |
