1 N ow it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around,

2 t hat the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”

3 T hen Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

4 B ut it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,

5 “ Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?

6 F or I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle.

7 W herever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

8 N ow therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.

9 A nd I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name 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; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,

11 s ince the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.

12 “ When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

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

14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

15 B ut My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

16 A nd your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”’”

17 A ccording to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. David’s Thanksgiving to God

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

19 A nd yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord God ?

20 N ow what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, know Your servant.

21 F or Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.

22 T herefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23 A nd who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?

24 F or You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become their God.

25 “ Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.

26 S o let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.

27 F or You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.

28 “ And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.

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