2 Samuel 7

1 It happened, when the king lived in his house, and Jehovah had given him rest from all his enemies all around,

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 said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains."

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 Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart; for Jehovah is with you."

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

4 It happened the same night, that the word of Jehovah came to Nathan, saying,

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

5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says Jehovah, "Shall you build me a house for me to dwell 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 lived in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle.

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 In all places in which I have walked throughout Israel, did I say a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'"'

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 Now therefore you shall tell my servant David this, 'Thus says Jehovah of hosts, "I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people 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 have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and I will make for you a name like the name of the great ones of 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 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; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first,

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 and from the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Jehovah tells you that he will build you a house.

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 And it will come about when your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, that I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish 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 will build a house for my name, and I will establish his throne forever.

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

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with a human rod, and with the stripes from human beings;

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 but my loving kindness I will not take from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away 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 shall be made sure forever before me, and your throne shall be established forever."'"

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 Nathan spoke to David.

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

18 Then king David went in and sat before Jehovah and said, "Who am I, Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

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 This was a small thing in your eyes, my Lord, and you have spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and you have let me look upon the generation of humankind to come, Lord Jehovah.

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 more can David add to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant, Jehovah.

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

21 For your servant's sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make your servant 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 are great, Lord Jehovah. For there is none like you, neither is there any God besides 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 what other nation on the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for himself, and to make a name for yourself and to do great and awesome deeds by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and it's 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 And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever; and you, Jehovah, became their God.

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

25 And now, my Lord, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, 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 Let your name be magnified forever, saying, 'Jehovah of hosts is the God of Israel,' and the house of your servant David shall be 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 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.

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 "Now, O Lord Jehovah, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing 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 Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord Jehovah, have spoken it. Let the house of your servant be blessed forever with your blessing."

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.”