[1] It happened, when David lived in his house, that David said to Nathan
the prophet, Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the
covenant of Yahweh [dwells] under curtains. [2] Nathan said to David, Do
all that is in your heart; for God is with you. [3] It happened the same
night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, [4] Go and tell David
my servant, Thus says Yahweh, You shall not build me a house to dwell in:
[5] for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel,
to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from [one] tent [to
another]. [6] In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, spoke I
a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of
my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? [7] Now
therefore thus shall you tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh of Hosts,
I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be
prince 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 I will
make you a name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. [9]
I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they
may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the
children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first, [10] and [as]
from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I
will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will build
you a house. [11] It shall happen, when your days are fulfilled that you
must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you,
who shall 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 lovingkindness
away from him, as I took it from him that was before you; [14] but I will
settle 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 did Nathan speak to David. [16] Then David the king
went in, and sat before Yahweh; and he said, Who am I, Yahweh God, and what
is my house, that you have brought me thus far? [17] This was a small thing
in your eyes, God; but you have spoken of your servant`s house for a great
while to come, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of
high degree, Yahweh God. [18] What can David [say] yet more to you
concerning the honor which is done to your servant? for you know your
servant. [19] Yahweh, for your servant`s sake, and according to your own
heart, have you worked all this greatness, to make known all [these] great
things. [20] Yahweh, there is none like you, neither is there any God
besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. [21] What
one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem
to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in
driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeem out of Egypt?
[22] For your people Israel did you make your own people forever; and you,
Yahweh, became their God. [23] Now, Yahweh, let the word that you have
spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established
forever, and do as you have spoken. [24] Let your name be established and
magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of Hosts is the God of Israel, even a God
to Israel: and the house of David your servant is established before you.
[25] For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him
a house: therefore has your servant found [in his heart] to pray before
you. [26] Now, Yahweh, you are God, and have promised this good thing to
your servant: [27] and now it has pleased you to bless the house of your
servant, that it may continue forever before you: for you, Yahweh, have
blessed, and it is blessed forever.
