1 W hen King David dwelt in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

King David lived in his house. The Lord had given him rest from all those around him who hated him. At this time,

2 T he king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.

the king said to Nathan, the man who spoke for God, “See now, I live in a house of cedar wood. But the special box of God stays within tent curtains.”

3 A nd Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.

Nathan said to the king, “Go and do all that is in your mind. For the Lord is with you.”

4 T hat night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,

5 G o and tell My servant David, Thus says the Lord: Shall you build Me a house in which to dwell?

“Go and tell My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says, “Are you the one who should build a house for Me to live in?

6 F or I have not dwelt in a house since I brought the Israelites out of Egypt to this day, but have moved about with a tent for My dwelling.

I have not lived in a house since the day I brought the people of Israel from Egypt to this day. But I have been moving about with a tent to live in.

7 I n all the places where I have moved with all the Israelites, did I speak a word to any from the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to be shepherd of My people Israel, asking, Why do you not build Me a house of cedar?

In all the places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I say anything about this to any of the families of Israel which I told to shepherd My people? Did I say to any of them, ‘Why have you not built a house of cedar wood for Me?’”’

8 S o now say this to My servant David, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over My people Israel.

So now tell My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of All says, “I took you from following the sheep in the field to be the ruler of My people Israel.

9 A nd I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like of the great men of the earth.

I have been with you in all the places you have gone. I have destroyed from in front of you all those who fought against you. I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.

10 A nd I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and be moved no more. And wicked men shall afflict them no more, as formerly

I will choose a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be troubled again. The sinful will not bring trouble to them any more, as they did before

11 A nd as from the time that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord declares to you that He will make for you a house:

since the day I told special people to rule My people Israel. I will give you rest from all those who hate you. And the Lord makes known to you that He will make a house for you.

12 A nd when your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up after you your offspring who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom.

When your days are done and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your son after you, who will be born from you. And I will build his nation.

13 H e shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

He will build a house for My name, and I will build the throne of his nation to last forever.

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 and with the stripes of the sons of men.

I will be a Father to him and he will be a son to Me. When he sins, I will punish him with the stick of men. And I will let the sons of men hit him.

15 B ut My mercy and loving-kindness shall not depart from him, as I took from Saul, whom I took away from before you.

But My loving-kindness will not leave him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I took away from you.

16 A nd your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before you; your throne shall be established forever.

Your house and your nation will be made sure before Me forever. Your throne will be built to last forever.”’”

17 I n accordance with all these words and all this vision Nathan spoke to David.

Nathan said to David all these words of this special dream. David’s Prayer

18 T hen King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far?

19 T hen as if this were a little thing in Your eyes, O Lord God, You have spoken also of Your servant’s house in the far distant future. And this is the law for man, O Lord God!

Yet this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken of Your servant’s family in the future. And this is the way of man, O Lord God.

20 W hat more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God.

What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God.

21 B ecause of Your promise and as Your own heart dictates, You have done all these astounding things to make Your servant know and understand.

Because of Your Word and Your own heart, You have done all these great things to let Your servant know.

22 T herefore You are great, O Lord God; for none is like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all our ears to hear.

For this reason You are great, O Lord God. There is none like You. And there is no God but You, by all that we have heard with our ears.

23 W hat one nation on earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be a people for Himself and to make for Himself a name? You have done great and terrible things for Yourself and for Your land, before Your people, whom You redeemed and delivered for Yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.

What other nation on earth is like Your people Israel. God went to make them free to be His people and to make a name for Himself. You did a great thing for Yourself and great things for Your land. You did them before Your people whom You have made free from Egypt, from nations and their gods.

24 A nd You have established for Yourself Your people Israel to be Your people forever, and You, Lord, became their God.

For You have made for Yourself Your people Israel to be Your people forever. O Lord, You have become their God.

25 N ow, O Lord God, confirm forever the word You have given as to Your servant and his house; and do as You have said,

Now, O Lord God, make sure forever the word which You have spoken about Your servant and his family. Do as You have said.

26 A nd Your name shall be magnified forever, saying, The Lord of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of Your servant David will be made firm before You.

And Your name will be honored forever. It will be said, ‘The Lord of All is God over Israel.’ May the family of Your servant David be made strong before You.

27 F or You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant: I will build you a house. So Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.

For You, O Lord of All, the God of Israel, have shown this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So Your servant has found strength of heart to pray this prayer to You.

28 A nd now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

And now, O Lord God, You are God. Your Words are truth. And You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

29 T herefore now let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let house be blessed forever.

So now may it please You to bring good to the house of Your servant, that it may last forever before You. For You have spoken, O Lord God. May Your good come to the family of Your servant forever.”