2 Samuel 7

¹ The king was living in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him.

² The king said to the prophet Nathan, “Look, I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God is living among tent curtains.”

³ Nathan said to the king, “Go and do everything you have in mind, because the LORD is with you.”

⁴ That same night, the word of the LORD came to Nathan:

⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: «Are you the one who will build me a house to live in?`

⁶ For I have not lived in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up from Egypt until today. I have been moving about in a tent, in a tabernacle.

⁷ Wherever I have gone with all the Israelites, did I ever say a word to any of the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”»’

⁸ 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, over Israel.

⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut down all your enemies before you. I will make your name great, like the names of the great ones on earth.

¹⁰ I will appoint a place for my people Israel and plant them there. They will live in their own place and will no longer be disturbed. The wicked will no longer oppress them as they did at first.

¹¹ From the day I appointed judges over my people Israel, I have given you rest from all your enemies. And the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you.

¹² When your days are complete and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.

¹³ He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

¹⁴ I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod like that of men and with blows like those given by human beings.

¹⁵ But my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.’”

¹⁶ ‘«Your house and your kingdom will be secure forever before you; your throne will be established forever.»’”

¹⁷ In keeping with all these words and this whole vision, Nathan spoke to David.

¹⁸ King David went in and sat before the LORD. He said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?

¹⁹ And this was still a small thing in your eyes, Lord GOD. You have also spoken about your servant’s house far into the future. This is the law for humanity, Lord GOD.

²⁰ What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord GOD.

²¹ Because of your word and according to your heart, you have done all this greatness, making it known to your servant.

²² That is why you are great, Lord GOD. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our own ears.

²³ And who is like your people, like Israel, one nation on earth, whom God went to redeem for himself as a people and to make a name for himself, and to do great and awesome things for your land before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

²⁴ You established your people Israel as your own people forever, and you, LORD, became their God.

²⁵ Now, LORD God, confirm forever the word you have spoken about your servant and his house, and do as you have said.

²⁶ May your name be magnified forever, so that people will say, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

²⁷ For you, LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

²⁸ Now, Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true. You have spoken this good thing to your servant.

²⁹ Now, be pleased to bless your servant’s house, so that it may remain forever before you. For you, Lord GOD, have spoken, and by your blessing your servant’s house will be blessed forever.”

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