I Paralipomenon 17

1 Cum autem habitaret David in domo sua, dixit ad Nathan prophetam: Ecce ego habito in domo cedrina: arca autem fœderis Domini sub pellibus est.

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 Et ait Nathan ad David: Omnia, quæ in corde tuo sunt, fac: Deus enim tecum est.

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

3 Igitur nocte illa factus est sermo Dei ad Nathan, dicens:

But that night God told Nathan,

4 Vade, et loquere David servo meo: Hæc dicit Dominus: Non ædificabis tu mihi domum ad habitandum.

“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 Neque enim mansi in domo ex eo tempore, quo eduxi Israel, usque ad diem hanc: sed fui semper mutans loca tabernaculi, et in tentorio

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 manens cum omni Israel. Numquid locutus sum saltem uni Iudicum Israel, quibus præceperam, ut pascerent populum meum, et dixi: Quare non ædificastis mihi domum cedrinam?

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 Nunc itaque sic loqueris ad servum meum David: Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Ego tuli te, cum in pascuis sequereris gregem, ut esses dux populi mei Israel.

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 Et fui tecum quocumque perrexisti: et interfeci omnes inimicos tuos coram te, fecique tibi nomen quasi unius magnorum, qui celebrantur in terra.

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 Et dedi locum populo meo Israel: plantabitur, et habitabit in eo, et ultra non commovebitur: nec filii iniquitatis atterent eos, sicut a principio,

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 ex diebus quibus dedi iudices populo meo Israel, et humiliavi universos inimicos tuos. Annuncio ergo tibi, quod ædificaturus sit tibi Dominus domum.

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 Cumque impleveris dies tuos ut vadas ad patres tuos, suscitabo semen tuum post te, quod erit de filiis tuis: et stabiliam regnum eius.

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 Ipse ædificabit mihi domum, et firmabo solium eius usque in æternum.

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

13 Ego ero ei in patrem, et ipse erit mihi in filium: et misericordiam meam non auferam ab eo, sicut abstuli ab eo, qui ante te fuit.

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 Et statuam eum in domo mea, et in regno meo usque in sempiternum: et thronus eius erit firmissimus in perpetuum.

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

15 Iuxta omnia verba hæc, et iuxta universam visionem istam, sic locutus est Nathan ad David.

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

16 Cumque venisset rex David, et sedisset coram Domino, dixit: Quis ego sum Domine Deus, et quæ domus mea, ut præstares mihi talia?

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 Sed et hoc parum visum est in conspectu tuo, ideoque locutus es super domum servi tui etiam in futurum: et fecisti me spectabilem super omnes homines Domine Deus.

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 Quid ultra addere potest David, cum ita glorificaveris servum tuum, et cognoveris eum?

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

19 Domine, propter famulum tuum iuxta cor tuum fecisti omnem magnificentiam hanc, et nota esse voluisti universa magnalia.

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 Domine, non est similis tui: et non est alius Deus absque te, ex omnibus, quos audivimus auribus nostris.

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

21 Quis enim est alius, ut populus tuus Israel, gens una in terra, ad quam perrexit Deus, ut liberaret, et faceret populum sibi, et magnitudine sua atque terroribus eiiceret nationes a facie eius, quem de Ægypto liberarat?

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 Et posuisti populum tuum Israel tibi in populum usque in æternum, et tu Domine factus es Deus eius.

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

23 Nunc igitur Domine, sermo, quem locutus es famulo tuo, et super domum eius, confirmetur in perpetuum, et fac sicut locutus es.

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 Permaneatque et magnificetur nomen tuum usque in sempiternum: et dicatur: Dominus exercituum Deus Israel, et domus David servi eius permanens coram eo.

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 Tu enim Domine Deus meus revelasti auriculam servi tui, ut ædificares ei domum: et idcirco invenit servus tuus fiduciam, ut oret coram te.

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 Nunc ergo Domine tu es Deus: et locutus es ad servum tuum tanta beneficia.

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

27 Et cœpisti benedicere domui servi tui, ut sit semper coram te: te enim Domine benedicente, benedicta erit in perpetuum.

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.”