God’s Covenant with David
1 Nowit came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of theLordisunder tent curtains.”
2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all thatisin your heart, for Godiswith you.”
3 But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says theLord: “You shallnot build Me a house to dwell in.
5 For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and fromonetabernacletoanother.
6 Wherever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar–’ ” ’
7 Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says theLordof hosts: “I took youfrom the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.
8 And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men whoareon the earth.
9 Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and willplant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
10 since the time that I commanded judgestobeover My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that theLordwill build you a house.
11 And it shall be, when your days arefulfilled, when you must gotobewith your fathers, that I will set up yourseed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12 He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
13 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him,as I tookitfromhimwho was before you.
14 AndI will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
15 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
16 Then King David went in and sat before theLord; and he said: “WhoamI, OLordGod? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
17 Andyetthis was a small thing in Your sight, O God; and You havealsospoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, OLordGod.
18 What more can Davidsayto You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant.
19 OLord, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.
20 OLord,thereisnone like You, noristhereanyGod besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21 And whoislike Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himselfasa people—to make for Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt?
22 For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You,Lord, have become their God.
23 “And now, OLord, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house,letitbe established forever, and do as You have said.
24 So let it be established, that Your name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘TheLordof hosts, the God of Israel,isIsrael’s God.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.
25 For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found itinhisheartto pray before You.
26 And now,Lord, You are God, and have promised this goodness to Your servant.
27 Now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You have blessed it, OLord, anditshallbeblessed forever.”