1 Chronicles 17
1 When David was settled in his house, he said to the prophet Nathan, “Look, I live in a house of cedar, while the ark of the LORD’s covenant is under tent curtains.”
2 Nathan said to David, “Do everything that is in your heart, because God is with you.”
3 That very night, the word of God came to Nathan:
4 “Go and tell my servant David: ‘This is what the LORD says: “You are not the one who will build a house for me to live in.
5 For I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up until now. I have moved from tent to tent and from one dwelling to another.
6 Wherever I have gone with all Israel, did I ever say a word to any of Israel’s judges, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
7 “Now, then, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over my people Israel.
8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut down all your enemies before you. I will make your name like the names of the great ones on earth.
9 I will appoint a place for my people Israel and plant them there. They will live in their own place and no longer be disturbed, and the wicked will no longer oppress them as they did at first.
10 From the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel, I have subdued all your enemies. I announce to you that the LORD will build a house for you.
11 When your days are complete and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
12 He will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.
13 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. I will not take my steadfast love away from him, as I took it away from the one who ruled before you.
14 I will establish him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will stand firm forever.’”
15 Nathan spoke all these words and this entire vision to David.
16 King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
17 And this was still a small thing in your eyes, God. You have also spoken about your servant’s house far into the future, and have regarded me as a man of high standing, LORD God.
18 What more can David say to you about the honor you have given your servant? You know your servant.
19 LORD, for the sake of your servant and in keeping with your heart, you have done all this greatness, making all these great things known.
20 LORD, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our own ears.
21 And who is like your people Israel, one nation on earth, whom God went to redeem as his own people? You did it to make a name for yourself through great and awesome deeds, driving nations out before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt.
22 You made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, LORD, became their God.
23 Now, LORD, let the word you spoke about your servant and his house stand forever, and do as you have said.
24 Let it stand, and let your name be exalted forever, so that people will say, ‘The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, is God to Israel.’ And may the house of your servant David stand firm before you.
25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. That is why your servant has found courage to pray before you.
26 Now, LORD, you are God, and you have spoken this good thing about your servant.
27 Now you have chosen to bless your servant’s house, so that it may remain forever before you. For you, LORD, have blessed it, and it is blessed forever.”
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