2 Samuel 7

1 And it comes to pass, when the king sat in his house, and YHWH has given rest to him all around, from all his enemies,

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

2 that the king says to Nathan the prophet, “Now see, I am dwelling in a house of cedars, but the Ark of God is dwelling in the midst of the curtain.”

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 And Nathan says to the king, “All that [is] in your heart—go, do, for YHWH [is] with you.”

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

4 And it comes to pass in that night, that the word of YHWH is to Nathan, saying,

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

5 “Go, and you have said to My servant, to David, Thus said YHWH: Do you build for Me a house for My dwelling in?

“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 For I have not dwelt in a house even from the day of My bringing up the sons of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, and am walking up and down in a tent and in a dwelling place.

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 During all [the time] that I have walked up and down among all the sons of Israel, have I spoken a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built a house of cedars for Me?

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 And now, thus you say to My servant, to David, Thus said YHWH of Hosts: I have taken you from the pasture, from after the flock, to be leader over My people, over Israel;

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 and I am with you wherever you have gone, and I cut off all your enemies from your presence, and have made a great name for you, as the name of the great ones who [are] in the earth,

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 and I have appointed a place for My people, for Israel, and have planted it, and it has dwelt in its place, and it is not troubled anymore, and the sons of perverseness do not add to afflict it anymore, as in the beginning,

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 even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I have given rest to you from all your enemies, and YHWH has declared to you that YHWH makes a house for you.

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 When your days are full, and you have lain with your fathers, then I have raised up your seed after you which goes out from your bowels, and have established his kingdom;

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 he builds a house for My Name, and I have established the throne of his kingdom for all time.

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

14 I am to him for a father, and he is to Me for a son; whom in his dealing perversely I have even reproved with a rod of men, and with strokes of the sons of Adam,

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 and My kindness does not turn aside from him, as I turned it aside from Saul, whom I turned aside from before you,

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 and your house and your kingdom [are] steadfast before you for all time, your throne is established for all time.”

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

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

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

18 And King David comes in and sits before YHWH, and says, “Who [am] I, Lord YHWH? And what [is] my house, that You have brought me here?

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 And yet this [is] little in Your eyes, Lord YHWH, and You also speak concerning the house of Your servant far off; and this [is] the law of the man, Lord YHWH.

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 And what does David add more to speak to You? And You, You have known Your servant, Lord YHWH.

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

21 Because of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to cause Your servant to know [it].

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 Therefore You have been great, YHWH God, for there is none like You, and there is no God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

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 And who [is] as Your people, as Israel—one nation in the earth, whom God has gone to redeem for a people for Himself, and to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself the greatness—even fearful things for Your land, at the presence of Your people, whom You have redeemed for Yourself out of Egypt—[among the] nations and their gods?

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 Indeed, You establish Your people Israel for Yourself, for a people for Yourself for all time, and You, YHWH, have been to them for God.

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

25 And now, YHWH God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant, and concerning his house, establish for all time, and do as You have spoken.

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 And Your Name is great for all time, saying, YHWH of Hosts [is] God over Israel, and the house of Your servant David is established before You,

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 for You, YHWH of Hosts, God of Israel, have uncovered the ear of Your servant, saying, I build a house for you, therefore Your servant has found his heart to pray this prayer to You.

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 And now, Lord YHWH, You [are] God Himself, and Your words are truth, and You speak this goodness to Your servant,

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

29 and now, begin and bless the house of Your servant, to be before You for all time, for You, Lord YHWH, have spoken, and by Your blessing the house of Your servant is blessed for all time.”

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.”