1 A nd it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his 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 hat the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth 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 thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.

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

4 A nd it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying,

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

5 G o and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

“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 W hereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

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 wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an 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 N ow therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over 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 thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in 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 M oreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

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 since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an 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 thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, 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 an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

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. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children 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 shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

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

16 A nd thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

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

17 A ccording to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

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

18 T hen went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God ? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

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 A nd this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of 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 A nd what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant.

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

21 F or thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

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

22 W herefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

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 A nd what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee 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 F or thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God.

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

25 A nd now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast 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 let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

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 thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

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, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy 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 thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

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.”