[1] Now when the king dwelt in his house, and the LORD had given him rest
from all his enemies round about, [2] the king said to Nathan the prophet,
"See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a
tent." [3] And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart;
for the LORD is with you." [4] But that same night the word of the LORD
came to Nathan, [5] "Go and tell my servant David, `Thus says the LORD:
Would you build me a house to dwell in? [6] I have not dwelt in a house
since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but
I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. [7] In all places where
I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of
the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel,
saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"' [8] Now therefore
thus you shall say to my servant David, `Thus says the LORD of hosts, I
took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be
prince over my people Israel; [9] and I have been with you wherever you
went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make
for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. [10]
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that
they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent
men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, [11] from the time that I
appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all
your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you
a house. [12] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your
fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth
from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a
house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
[14] I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits
iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the
sons of men; [15] but I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took
it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. [16] And your house and your
kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be
established for ever.'" [17] In accordance with all these words, and in
accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. [18] Then King
David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and
what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? [19] And yet this was
a small thing in thy eyes, O Lord GOD; thou hast spoken also of thy
servant's house for a great while to come, and hast shown me future
generations, O Lord GOD! [20] And what more can David say to thee? For thou
knowest thy servant, O Lord GOD! [21] Because of thy promise, and according
to thy own heart, thou hast wrought all this greatness, to make thy servant
know it. [22] Therefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like
thee, and there is no God besides thee, according to all that we have heard
with our ears. [23] What other nation on earth is like thy people Israel,
whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name, and doing
for them great and terrible things, by driving out before his people a
nation and its gods? [24] And thou didst establish for thyself thy people
Israel to be thy people for ever; and thou, O LORD, didst become their God.
[25] And now, O LORD God, confirm for ever the word which thou hast spoken
concerning thy servant and concerning his house, and do as thou hast
spoken; [26] and thy name will be magnified for ever, saying, `The LORD of
hosts is God over Israel,' and the house of thy servant David will be
established before thee. [27] For thou, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel,
hast made this revelation to thy servant, saying, `I will build you a
house'; therefore thy servant has found courage to pray this prayer to
thee. [28] And now, O Lord GOD, thou art God, and thy words are true, and
thou hast promised this good thing to thy servant; [29] now therefore may
it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for
ever before thee; for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken, and with thy blessing
shall the house of thy servant be blessed for ever."