撒母耳記下 7
1 王住在自己宮中，耶和華使他安靖，不被四圍的仇敵擾亂。
By now the king was comfortable in his palace and the Lord had given him peace from all the enemy nations around him.
2 那時，王對先知拿單說：「看哪，我住在香柏木的宮中，上帝的約櫃反在幔子裏。」
So he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look at me—I live in a palace made of cedar, but the Ark of God is still in a tent.”
3 拿單對王說：「你可以照你的心意而行，因為耶和華與你同在。」
“Go ahead, do whatever you want, for the Lord is with you,” Nathan told the king.
4 當夜，耶和華的話臨到拿單說：
But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him,
5 「你去告訴我僕人大衛，說耶和華如此說：『你豈可建造殿宇給我居住呢？
“Go and tell my servant David, This is what the Lord says: Should you be the one to build a house for me to live in?
6 自從我領以色列人出埃及直到今日，我未曾住過殿宇，常在會幕和帳幕中行走。
For I have never lived in a house, from the time I led the Israelites out of Egypt up till now. I have always moved from place to place, living in a tent and a Tabernacle.
7 凡我同以色列人所走的地方，我何曾向以色列一支派的士師，就是我吩咐牧養我民以色列的說：你們為何不給我建造香柏木的殿宇呢？』
But in all those travels with all of Israel did I ever ask any Israelite leader I'd ordered to take care of my people, ‘Why haven't you built a cedar house for me?’
8 「現在，你要告訴我僕人大衛，說萬軍之耶和華如此說：『我從羊圈中將你召來，叫你不再跟從羊群，立你作我民以色列的君。
So then, tell my servant David this is what the Lord Almighty says. It was me who took you from the fields, from looking after sheep, to become a leader of my people Israel.
9 你無論往哪裏去，我常與你同在，剪除你的一切仇敵。我必使你得大名，好像世上大大有名的人一樣。
I have been with you wherever you've gone. I have destroyed all your enemies right in front of you, and I will make your reputation as great as the most famous people on earth.
10 我必為我民以色列選定一個地方，栽培他們，使他們住自己的地方，不再遷移；凶惡之子也不像從前擾害他們，
I will choose a place for my people Israel. I will settle them there and they won't be disturbed anymore. Evil people won't persecute them as they used to,
11 並不像我命士師治理我民以色列的時候一樣。我必使你安靖，不被一切仇敵擾亂，並且我－耶和華應許你，必為你建立家室。
from the time I placed judges in charge of my people. I will defeat all of your enemies. Also I want to make it clear that I the Lord will build a house for you.
12 你壽數滿足、與你列祖同睡的時候，我必使你的後裔接續你的位；我也必堅定他的國。
For when you come to the end of your life and join your ancestors in death, I will bring to power one of your descendants, one of your sons, and make sure his kingdom is successful.
13 他必為我的名建造殿宇；我必堅定他的國位，直到永遠。
He will be the one to build me a house, and I will make sure his kingdom lasts forever.
14 我要作他的父，他要作我的子；他若犯了罪，我必用人的杖責打他，用人的鞭責罰他。
I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. If he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod like people do, like a parent punishing a child.
15 但我的慈愛仍不離開他，像離開在你面前所廢棄的掃羅一樣。
But I will never take away my kindness and love from him, as I did in the case of Saul who I removed before you.
16 你的家和你的國必在我面前永遠堅立。你的國位也必堅定，直到永遠。』」
Your house and your kingdom will last forever; your dynasty will be secure forever.”
17 拿單就按這一切話，照這默示，告訴大衛。
This is what Nathan explained to David—everything he was told in this divine revelation.
18 於是大衛王進去，坐在耶和華面前，說：「主耶和華啊，我是誰？我的家算甚麼？你竟使我到這地步呢？
Then King David went and sat down in the presence of the Lord. He prayed, “Who am I, Lord God, and what is significant about my family, that you have brought me to this place?
19 主耶和華啊，這在你眼中還看為小，又應許你僕人的家至於久遠。主耶和華啊，這豈是人所常遇的事嗎？
God, you talk as if this was a small thing in your eyes, and you also have spoken about the future of my house, my family dynasty. Is this your usual way of dealing with human beings, Lord God?
20 主耶和華啊，我還有何言可以對你說呢？因為你知道你的僕人。
What more can I, David, tell you? You know exactly what your servant is like, Lord God.
21 你行這大事使僕人知道，是因你所應許的話，也是照你的心意。
You're doing all this for me and you have explained it to me, your servant, and because of your promise and because it's what you want to do.
22 主耶和華啊，你本為大，照我們耳中聽見，沒有可比你的；除你以外再無上帝。
How great you are, Lord God! There really is no-one like you; there is no other God, only you. We have never heard about anyone else.
23 世上有何民能比你的民以色列呢？你從埃及救贖他們作自己的子民，又在你贖出來的民面前行大而可畏的事，驅逐列邦人和他們的神，顯出你的大名。
Who else is as fortunate as your people Israel? Who else on earth did God go and redeem to make his own people? You gained a wonderful reputation for yourself by all the tremendous, amazing things you did in driving out other nations and their gods before your people as you redeemed them from Egypt.
24 你曾堅立你的民以色列作你的子民，直到永遠；你－耶和華也作了他們的上帝。
You made your people Israel your own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
25 「耶和華上帝啊，你所應許僕人和僕人家的話，求你堅定，直到永遠；照你所說的而行。
So now, Lord God, please ensure that what you have said about me and my house happens, and is confirmed forever. Please do as you have promised,
26 願人永遠尊你的名為大，說：『萬軍之耶和華是治理以色列的上帝。』這樣，你僕人大衛的家必在你面前堅立。
and may your true nature be honored forever, with people declaring, ‘The Lord Almighty is Israel's God!’ May the house of your servant David continue to be there in your presence.
27 萬軍之耶和華－以色列的上帝啊，因你啟示你的僕人說：『我必為你建立家室』，所以僕人大膽向你如此祈禱。
Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to me, your servant, telling me, ‘I will build a house for you.’ That's why your servant has had the courage to pray this prayer to you.
28 「主耶和華啊，惟有你是上帝。你的話是真實的；你也應許將這福氣賜給僕人。
Lord Almighty, you are God! Your words are truth, and you are the one who has promised these good things to your servant.
29 現在求你賜福與僕人的家，可以永存在你面前。主耶和華啊，這是你所應許的。願你永遠賜福與僕人的家！」
So now, please bless your servant's house that it may continue in your presence forever. For you have spoken, Lord God, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”
