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.
Now it happened that, when the king had settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
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.”
he said to the prophet Nathan, “Do you not see that I live in a house of cedar, and that the ark of God has been placed in the midst of tent skins?”
3 “Go ahead, do whatever you want, for the Lord is with you,” Nathan told the king.
And 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,
But it happened in that night, behold, the word of the Lord 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 say to my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord: Should you build a house for me as a dwelling place?
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 from the day that I led the sons of Israel away from the land of Egypt, even to this day. Instead, I have walked in a tabernacle, and in a tent.
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?’
And in all the places that I have crossed through, with all the sons of Israel, did I ever speak a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I instructed to pasture 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.
And now, so shall you speak to my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pastures, from following the sheep, so that you would be the leader over my people 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.
And I have been with you everywhere that you walked. And I have slain all your enemies before your face. And I have made you a great name, beside the name of the great ones who are upon 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,
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall live there, and they shall no longer be disturbed. Neither shall the sons of iniquity continue to afflict them as before,
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.
from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give rest to you from all your enemies. And the Lord foretells to you that the Lord himself will make a house for you.
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.
And when your days will have been fulfilled, and you will sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will go forth from your loins, and I will make firm his kingdom.
13 He will be the one to build me a house, and I will make sure his kingdom lasts forever.
He himself shall build a house to my name. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom, even 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 a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he will commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and with the wounds of the sons 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 mercy I will not take away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before my face.
16 Your house and your kingdom will last forever; your dynasty will be secure forever.”
And your house shall be faithful, and your kingdom shall be before your face, for eternity, and your throne shall be secure continuously.’”
17 This is what Nathan explained to David—everything he was told in this divine revelation.
According to all these words, and according to this entire vision, so did Nathan speak to David.
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 king David entered and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you would bring me to this point?
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?
Moreover, this has seemed little in your sight, O Lord God, unless you also will speak about the house of your servant for a long time. For this is the law of Adam, O Lord God.
20 What more can I, David, tell you? You know exactly what your servant is like, Lord God.
Therefore, what more will David be able to say to you? For you know your servant, O 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.
Because of your word, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great deeds, so that you would make it known to your servant.
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.
For this reason, you are magnified, O Lord God. For there is no one like you. And there is no God except you, in all the things that we have heard with our own 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.
But what nation is there upon the earth like your people Israel, because of whom God went forth, so that he might redeem a people for himself, and establish a name for himself, and accomplish for them great and terrible things upon the earth, before the face of your people, whom you redeemed for yourself away from Egypt, the nations and their gods.
24 You made your people Israel your own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
For you have secured your people Israel for yourself, as an everlasting people. And you, O Lord God, have become 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 therefore, O Lord God, raise up forever the word that you have spoken over your servant and over his house. And do just as you have said,
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.
so that your name may be magnified even forever, and so that it may be said: ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And the house of your servant David will be established in the sight of the Lord.
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, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to the ear of your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Because of this, your servant has found it 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 therefore, O Lord God, you are God, and your words shall be true. For you have spoken to your servant these good things.
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.”
Therefore, begin, and bless the house of your servant, so that it may be forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken. And so, let the house of your servant be blessed with your blessing forever.”
