1 דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים 17

1 וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יָשַׁ֥ב דָּוִ֖יד בְּבֵיתֹ֑ו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜יד אֶל־נָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֗יא הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֤י יֹושֵׁב֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הֽ͏ָאֲרָזִ֔ים וַאֲרֹ֥ון בְּרִית־יְהוָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת יְרִיעֹֽות׃

Once David had settled into his palace, he spoke to the prophet Nahum. “Look,” he said, “I'm living in a cedar palace while the Ark of the Lord's Agreement is kept in a tent!”

2 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר נָתָן֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔יד כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ עֲשֵׂ֑ה כִּ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּֽךְ׃ ס

“Do what you think you should, for the God is with you,” Nathan replied.

3 וַֽיְהִ֖י בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֑וּא וַיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶל־נָתָ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃

But that night God told Nathan,

4 לֵ֤ךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֣יד עַבְדִּ֔י כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה לֹ֥א אַתָּ֛ה תִּבְנֶה־לִּ֥י הַבַּ֖יִת לָשָֽׁבֶת׃

“Go and talk to my servant David. Tell him, this is what the Lord says, You are not to build a house for me to live in.

5 כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙ בְּבַ֔יִת מִן־הַיֹּ֗ום אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶעֱלֵ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה וָֽאֶהְיֶ֛ה מֵאֹ֥הֶל אֶל־אֹ֖הֶל וּמִמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃

I have not lived in a house from the time I led Israel out of Egypt until now. I have lived in tents, moving from place to place.

6 בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי֮ בְּכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ הֲדָבָ֣ר דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי אֶת־אַחַד֙ שֹׁפְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֛יתִי לִרְעֹ֥ות אֶת־עַמִּ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֛מָּה לֹא־בְנִיתֶ֥ם לִ֖י בֵּ֥ית אֲרָזִֽים׃

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?’

7 וְ֠עַתָּה כֹּֽה־תֹאמַ֞ר לְעַבְדִּ֣י לְדָוִ֗יד ס כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות אֲנִ֤י לְקַחְתִּ֙יךָ֙ מִן־הַנָּוֶ֔ה מִֽן־אַחֲרֵ֖י הַצֹּ֑אן לִהְיֹ֣ות נָגִ֔יד עַ֖ל עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

So then, go and 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.

8 וָֽאֶהְיֶ֣ה עִמְּךָ֗ בְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלַ֔כְתָּ וָאַכְרִ֥ית אֶת־כָּל־אֹויְבֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ וְעָשִׂ֤יתִֽי לְךָ֙ שֵׁ֔ם כְּשֵׁ֥ם הַגְּדֹולִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

I have been with you wherever you've gone. I have struck down all your enemies right in front of you, and I will make your reputation as great as the most famous people on earth.

9 וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י מָ֠קֹום לְעַמִּ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל וּנְטַעְתִּ֙יהוּ֙ וְשָׁכַ֣ן תַּחְתָּ֔יו וְלֹ֥א יִרְגַּ֖ז עֹ֑וד וְלֹא־יֹוסִ֤יפוּ בְנֵי־עַוְלָה֙ לְבַלֹּתֹ֔ו כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר בָּרִאשֹׁונָֽה׃

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,

10 וּלְמִיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוִּ֤יתִי שֹֽׁפְטִים֙ עַל־עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהִכְנַ֖עְתִּי אֶת־כָּל־אֹויְבֶ֑יךָ וָאַגִּ֣ד לָ֔ךְ וּבַ֖יִת יִֽבְנֶה־לְּךָ֥ יְהוָֽה׃

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.

11 וְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי־מָלְא֤וּ יָמֶ֙יךָ֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת עִם־אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ וַהֲקִֽימֹותִ֤י אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה מִבָּנֶ֑יךָ וַהֲכִינֹותִ֖י אֶת־מַלְכוּתֹֽו׃

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.

12 ה֥וּא יִבְנֶה־לִּ֖י בָּ֑יִת וְכֹנַנְתִּ֥י אֶת־כִּסְאֹ֖ו עַד־עֹולָֽם׃

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

13 אֲנִי֙ אֶֽהְיֶה־לֹּ֣ו לְאָ֔ב וְה֖וּא יִֽהְיֶה־לִּ֣י לְבֵ֑ן וְחַסְדִּי֙ לֹא־אָסִ֣יר מֵֽעִמֹּ֔ו כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר הֲסִירֹ֔ותִי מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃

I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. I will never take away my kindness and love from him, as I did in the case of the one who ruled before you.

14 וְהַֽעֲמַדְתִּ֛יהוּ בְּבֵיתִ֥י וּבְמַלְכוּתִ֖י עַד־הָעֹולָ֑ם וְכִסְאֹ֕ו יִהְיֶ֥ה נָכֹ֖ון עַד־עֹולָֽם׃

I will put him in charge of my house and my kingdom forever, and his dynasty will last forever.”

15 כְּכֹל֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וּכְכֹ֖ל הֶחָזֹ֣ון הַזֶּ֑ה כֵּ֛ן דִּבֶּ֥ר נָתָ֖ן אֶל־דָּוִֽיד׃ פ

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

16 וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔יד וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִֽי־אֲנִ֞י יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ וּמִ֣י בֵיתִ֔י כִּ֥י הֲבִיאֹתַ֖נִי עַד־הֲלֹֽם׃

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?

17 וַתִּקְטַ֨ן זֹ֤את בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וַתְּדַבֵּ֥ר עַל־בֵּֽית־עַבְדְּךָ֖ לְמֵרָחֹ֑וק וּרְאִיתַ֗נִי כְּתֹ֧ור הָאָדָ֛ם הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִֽים׃

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. You also see me as someone very important, Lord God.

18 מַה־יֹּוסִ֨יף עֹ֥וד דָּוִ֛יד אֵלֶ֖יךָ לְכָבֹ֣וד אֶת־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וְאַתָּ֖ה אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֥ יָדָֽעְתָּ׃

What more can I, David, say to you for honoring me in this way? You know your servant all too well!

19 יְהוָ֕ה בַּעֲב֤וּר עַבְדְּךָ֙ וּֽכְלִבְּךָ֔ עָשִׂ֕יתָ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַגְּדוּלָּ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את לְהֹדִ֖יעַ אֶת־כָּל־הַגְּדֻלֹּֽות׃

Lord, you're doing all this for me, your servant, and because it's what you want—doing all these amazing things and letting people know about them.

20 יְהוָה֙ אֵ֣ין כָּמֹ֔וךָ וְאֵ֥ין אֱלֹהִ֖ים זוּלָתֶ֑ךָ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ בְּאָזְנֵֽינוּ׃

Lord, there really is no-one like you; there is no other God, only you. We have never heard about anyone else.

21 וּמִי֙ כְּעַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל גֹּ֥וי אֶחָ֖ד בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֩ הָלַ֨ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים לִפְדֹּ֧ות לֹ֣ו עָ֗ם לָשׂ֤וּם לְךָ֙ שֵׁ֚ם גְּדֻלֹּ֣ות וְנֹרָאֹ֔ות לְגָרֵ֗שׁ מִפְּנֵ֧י עַמְּךָ֛ אֲשֶׁר־פָּדִ֥יתָ מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם גֹּויִֽם׃

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 before your people as you redeemed them from Egypt.

22 וַ֠תִּתֵּן אֶת־עַמְּךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ לְךָ֛ לְעָ֖ם עַד־עֹולָ֑ם וְאַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה הָיִ֥יתָ לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים׃

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

23 וְעַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבַּ֤רְתָּ עַֽל־עַבְדְּךָ֙ וְעַל־בֵּיתֹ֔ו יֵאָמֵ֖ן עַד־עֹולָ֑ם וַעֲשֵׂ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃

So now, Lord, please ensure that what you have said about me and my house happens, and lasts forever. Please do as you have promised,

24 וְ֠יֵֽאָמֵן וְיִגְדַּ֨ל שִׁמְךָ֤ עַד־עֹולָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאֹות֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבֵית־דָּוִ֥יד עַבְדְּךָ֖ נָכֹ֥ון לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃

and may your true nature be recognized and honored forever, with people declaring, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, is Israel's God!’ May the house of your servant David continue to be there in your presence.

25 כִּ֣י ׀ אַתָּ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֗י גָּלִ֙יתָ֙ אֶת־אֹ֣זֶן עַבְדְּךָ֔ לִבְנֹ֥ות לֹ֖ו בָּ֑יִת עַל־כֵּן֙ מָצָ֣א עַבְדְּךָ֔ לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃

You, my God, have explained to me, your servant, that you will build me a house. That's why your servant has had the courage to pray to you.

26 וְעַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אַתָּה־ה֖וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַתְּדַבֵּר֙ עַֽל־עַבְדְּךָ֔ הַטֹּובָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

For you, Lord, are God! You are the one who has promised all these good things to your servant.

27 וְעַתָּ֗ה הֹואַ֙לְתָּ֙ לְבָרֵךְ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית עַבְדְּךָ֔ לִהְיֹ֥ות לְעֹולָ֖ם לְפָנֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בֵּרַ֔כְתָּ וּמְבֹרָ֖ךְ לְעֹולָֽם׃ פ

So now, please bless your servant's house that it may continue in your presence forever. For when you bless, Lord, it is blessed forever.”