7 The king was living in his palace. The Lord kept him safe from all his enemies everywhere. 2 One day, the king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘I am living in a beautiful palace that is made of cedar wood. But God's Covenant Box still has a tent for its home!’
3 Nathan replied to the king, ‘Do what you think is right. The Lord will help you.’
4 But that night the Lord said to Nathan, 5 ‘Go and tell my servant David,
“The Lord says this: Do not think that you are the right man to build a house for me to live in. 6 From the time that I brought Israel's people out of Egypt until now, I have never lived in a house. While my people moved from place to place, I travelled with them. I lived in a tent as my home. 7 I have moved about to many different places with the Israelite people. I chose leaders to take care of Israel's tribes, like shepherds for them. But in all that time, I never said to any of the leaders, ‘You should have built a beautiful house of cedar wood for me.’
8 So tell my servant David that the Lord Almighty says this: I took you from the fields where you were taking care of sheep. I took you from there to become the ruler of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you everywhere that you have gone. I destroyed all your enemies that were attacking you. Now I will make you famous. Your name will be as great as the names of the earth's greatest men.
10 I have chosen a place where my people Israel will live. I have put them in that place, where they can be safe. They will not be afraid of trouble from any enemy. Wicked people will not hurt them any more. That happened in the past, 11 from the time that I chose leaders to rule my people Israel. But now I will keep you safe from all your enemies.
I, the Lord , say to you, David: I will give you descendants who will rule as kings after you. That will be the royal house that I build for you! 12 When you die, people will bury you in the grave of your ancestors. Then I will choose your descendant, one of your own sons, to become king. I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the man who will build a house for me. People will give honour to my name there. I will cause his descendants to rule as kings for ever. 14 I will be his father and he will be my son. When he does something wrong, I will punish him, so that he learns to do what is right. I will punish him in the way that human fathers punish their sons. 15 I removed my faithful love from Saul, and I removed him as king before you. But I will always continue to faithfully love your son. 16 The kingdom that your descendants rule will continue for ever. Someone from your family will always be king.” ’
17 Nathan told David the whole message that God had shown to him.
18 Then King David went into the Lord 's tent. [ a ] He sat down and he prayed to the Lord .
He said, ‘Almighty Lord , I am not a special person and my family is not special. You have helped me very much and I do not deserve it. 19 You have also made a promise about the descendants in my family, Almighty Lord . You have promised to help them in the future, as well as me. I am only a man but you have shown this to me, Almighty Lord .
20 I am your servant, Almighty Lord , and you know me completely. There is nothing more that I can say. 21 Because of your covenant you have chosen to do all these great things. You have told me, your servant, what you promise to do. 22 Almighty Lord , you are very great. There is nobody like you. You alone are God. What we have heard about you is true! 23 There is no other nation on earth like your people, Israel. We are the only nation that you have rescued so that we would belong to you. You did that to show that your name is great. You did great miracles to rescue your people from Egypt where they were slaves. Then you chased out other nations and their gods from the land that you were giving to your people. 24 You chose Israel to be your own people for all time. You, Lord , became our God.
25 Lord God, please do the things that you have promised to do for me, your servant, and for my family. Continue to do for ever what you have promised to do. 26 Then people will always give honour to your great name. They will say, “The Lord Almighty is the God who rules over Israel!” And David's descendants will continue to serve you as kings.
27 Lord Almighty, Israel's God, you have made this promise to me, your servant. You have said to me, “You will always have descendants who will rule. That is the house that I will build for you.” That is why I am not afraid to pray to you like this.
28 Almighty Lord , you are the true God. We trust your promises. You have promised these good things to me, your servant. 29 I pray that you will be pleased to bless my family and my descendants. Then we will serve you faithfully for ever. Almighty Lord , you have promised to do this. So I know that you will continue to bless my descendants for ever.’
7 After King David moved into his new house the Lord gave him some relief from all of his enemies around him. 2 King David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a fancy house made of cedar wood, but God’s Holy Box is still kept in a tent!”
3 Nathan said to King David, “Do whatever you want to do. The Lord will be with you.”
4 But that night, the Lord ’s word came to Nathan:
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in. 6 I did not live in a house at the time I took the Israelites out of Egypt. No, I traveled around in a tent. I used the tent for my home. 7 I never told any of the tribes of Israel to build me a fancy house made from cedar wood.’
8 “You must say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: I chose you while you were out in the pasture following the sheep. I took you from that job and made you the leader of my people, the Israelites. 9 I have been with you every place you went. I have defeated your enemies for you. I will make you one of the most famous people on earth. 10-11 And I chose a place for my people, the Israelites. I planted the Israelites. I gave them their own place to live so that they will not have to move from place to place anymore. In the past, I sent judges to lead my people, but evil people gave them many troubles. That will not happen now. I am giving you peace from all of your enemies. I promise that I will make your family a family of kings. [ a ]
12 “‘When your life is finished, you will die and be buried with your ancestors. But then I will make one of your own children become the king. 13 He will build a house for my name, and I will make his kingdom strong forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. [ b ] When he sins, I will use other people to punish him. They will be my whips. 15 But I will never stop loving him. I will continue to be loyal to him. I took away my love and kindness from Saul. I pushed Saul away when I turned to you. 16 Your family of kings will continue—you can depend on that! For you, your kingdom will continue forever! Your throne will stand forever!’”
17 Nathan told David about that vision. He told David everything God had said.
18 Then King David went in and sat in front of the Lord . David said,
“Lord God , why am I so important to you? Why is my family important? Why have you made me so important? 19 I am nothing but a servant, but Lord God , you have also said these kind things about my future family. Lord God , you don’t always talk like this to people, do you? 20 How can I continue talking to you? Lord God , you know that I am only a servant. 21 You will do all these wonderful things because you said you would do them and because you want to do them. And you decided to let me know about all these things. 22 Lord God , this is why you are so great! There is no one like you. There is no god except you! We know that because of what we ourselves have heard about what you did.
23 “And there is no nation on earth like your people, Israel. They are a special people. They were slaves, but you took them out of Egypt and made them free. You made them your people. You did great and wonderful things for the Israelites and for your land. 24 You made the people of Israel your very own people forever, and Lord , you became their God.
25 “Now, Lord God, you promised to do something for me, your servant, and for my family. Now please do what you promised—make my family a family of kings forever! 26 Then your name will be honored forever. People will say, ‘The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel! And may the family of your servant David continue to be strong in serving you.’
27 “You, Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, have shown things to me. You said, ‘I will make your family great.’ That is why I, your servant, decided to pray this prayer to you. 28 Lord God , you are God, and I can trust what you say. And you said that these good things would happen to me, your servant. 29 Now, please, bless my family. Let them stand before you and serve you forever. Lord God , you yourself said these things. You yourself blessed my family with a blessing that will continue forever.”
7 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.
4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying,
5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord , Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in 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; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
18 Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord , and he said, Who am I, O Lord God ? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God ; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God ?
20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God , knowest thy servant.
21 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
22 Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord , art become their God.
25 And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
27 For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28 And now, O Lord God , thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God , hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
7 ( A ) Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 that the king said to ( B ) Nathan the prophet, “See now, I live in ( C ) a house of cedar, but the ark of God ( D ) remains within the tent.” 3 Nathan said to the king, “ ( E ) Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But in the same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “ ( F ) Should you build Me a house for My dwelling? 6 For ( G ) I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about ( H ) in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place. 7 ( I ) Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, ( J ) whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’
8 Now then, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “ ( K ) I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, ( L ) to be leader over My people Israel. 9 And ( M ) I have been with you wherever you have gone, and ( N ) have eliminated all your enemies from you; I will also make a great name for you, like the names of the great men who [ a ] are on the earth. 10 And I will establish a place for My people Israel, and ( O ) will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, ( P ) nor will [ b ] malicious people oppress them anymore as previously, 11 even ( Q ) from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and ( R ) I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that ( S ) the Lord will make a house for you. 12 ( T ) When your days are finished and you [ c ] ( U ) lie down with your fathers, ( V ) I will raise up your [ d ] descendant after you, who will come from [ e ] you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 ( W ) He shall build a house for My name, and ( X ) I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 ( Y ) I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; ( Z ) when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind, 15 but My favor shall not depart from him, ( AA ) as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you. 16 ( AB ) Your house and your kingdom shall endure before [ f ] Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all of this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
18 Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord , and he said, “ ( AC ) Who am I, Lord [ g ] God , and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God , ( AD ) for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And ( AE ) this is the [ h ] custom of mankind, Lord God . 20 Again what more can David say to You? For ( AF ) You know Your servant, Lord God ! 21 ( AG ) For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason ( AH ) You are great, Lord God ; for ( AI ) there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, ( AJ ) according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And ( AK ) what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and ( AL ) to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, [ i ] because of ( AM ) Your people whom ( AN ) You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods? 24 For ( AO ) You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and ( AP ) You, Lord , have become their God. 25 Now then, Lord God, the word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do just as You have spoken, 26 ( AQ ) so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of armies is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have [ j ] given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘ ( AR ) I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found [ k ] courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now then, Lord God , You are God, and ( AS ) Your words are truth; and You have [ l ] promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 And now, may [ m ] it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord God , have spoken; and [ n ] ( AT ) with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
7 After the king was settled in his palace ( B ) and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies ( C ) around him, ( D ) 2 he said to Nathan ( E ) the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house ( F ) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” ( G )
3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, ( H ) go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you ( I ) the one to build me a house to dwell in? ( J ) 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. ( K ) I have been moving from place to place with a tent ( L ) as my dwelling. ( M ) 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, ( N ) did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd ( O ) my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house ( P ) of cedar? ( Q ) ”’
8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, ( R ) and appointed you ruler ( S ) over my people Israel. ( T ) 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, ( U ) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. ( V ) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. ( W ) 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant ( X ) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. ( Y ) Wicked ( Z ) people will not oppress them anymore, ( AA ) as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders [ a ] ( AB ) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. ( AC )
“‘The Lord declares ( AD ) to you that the Lord himself will establish ( AE ) a house ( AF ) for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest ( AG ) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, ( AH ) and I will establish his kingdom. ( AI ) 13 He is the one who will build a house ( AJ ) for my Name, ( AK ) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ( AL ) 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. ( AM ) When he does wrong, I will punish him ( AN ) with a rod ( AO ) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, ( AP ) as I took it away from Saul, ( AQ ) whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me [ b ] ; your throne ( AR ) will be established ( AS ) forever. ( AT ) ’”
17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord , and he said:
“Who am I, ( AV ) Sovereign Lord , and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord , you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, ( AW ) Sovereign Lord , is for a mere human! [ c ]
20 “What more can David say ( AX ) to you? For you know ( AY ) your servant, ( AZ ) Sovereign Lord . 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
22 “How great ( BA ) you are, ( BB ) Sovereign Lord ! There is no one like ( BC ) you, and there is no God ( BD ) but you, as we have heard with our own ears. ( BE ) 23 And who is like your people Israel ( BF ) —the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name ( BG ) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders ( BH ) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed ( BI ) from Egypt? [ d ] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own ( BJ ) forever, and you, Lord , have become their God. ( BK )
25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise ( BL ) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name ( BM ) will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established ( BN ) in your sight.
27 “ Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord , you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, ( BO ) and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord , have spoken, and with your blessing ( BP ) the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”
