2 Samuel 7

1 By now the king was comfortable in his palace and the Lord had given him peace from all the enemy nations around him.

When the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,

2 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.”

the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within curtains.”

3 “Go ahead, do whatever you want, for the Lord is with you,” Nathan told the king.

Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

4 But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him,

That same night, the LORD’s word came to Nathan, saying,

5 “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?

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘The LORD says, “Should you build me a house for me to dwell in?

6 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.

For I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle.

7 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?’

In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, did I say a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’

8 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.

Now therefore tell my servant David this: ‘The LORD of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel.

9 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.

I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

10 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,

I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not afflict them any more, as at the first,

11 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.

and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD tells you that the LORD will make you a house.

12 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.

When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He will be the one to build me a house, and I will make sure his kingdom lasts forever.

He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 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.

I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men;

15 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.

but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.

16 Your house and your kingdom will last forever; your dynasty will be secure forever.”

Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’”

17 This is what Nathan explained to David—everything he was told in this divine revelation.

Nathan spoke to David all these words, and according to all this vision.

18 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?

Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?

19 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?

This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord GOD, but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this among men, Lord GOD!

20 What more can I, David, tell you? You know exactly what your servant is like, Lord God.

What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Lord GOD.

21 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.

For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.

22 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.

Therefore you are great, LORD God. For there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23 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.

What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make himself a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeemed to yourself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

24 You made your people Israel your own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

You established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, LORD, became their God.

25 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,

“Now, LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken.

26 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.

Let your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David will be established before you.’

27 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.

For you, LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.

28 Lord Almighty, you are God! Your words are truth, and you are the one who has promised these good things to your servant.

“Now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.

29 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.”

Now therefore, let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord GOD, have spoken it. Let the house of your servant be blessed forever with your blessing.”