1 N ow it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under tent curtains.”

As David sat in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, Behold, I dwell in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remains under tent curtains.

2 T hen Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

Then Nathan said to David, Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.

3 B ut it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

And that same night the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4 “ Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.

Go and tell David My servant, Thus says the Lord: You shall not build Me a house to dwell in,

5 F or I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel from Egypt until this day; but I have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

6 W herever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar–’”’

Wherever I have walked with all Israel, did I say a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to feed My people, saying, Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?

7 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 Israel.

Now 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, that you should be prince over My people Israel.

8 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 name like the name of the great men who are on the earth.

And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you, and I will make your name like the name of the great ones of the earth.

9 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,

Also 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 s ince the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the Lord will build you a house.

Since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. Moreover, I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore, I foretell to you that the Lord will build you a house (a blessed posterity).

11 A nd it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

And it shall come to pass that when your days are fulfilled to go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

12 H e shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

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 mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.

I will be his father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy and steadfast love away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.

14 A nd I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.”’”

But I will settle him (Him) in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his (His) throne shall be established forevermore.

15 A ccording to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

16 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?

And David the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house and family, that You have brought me up to this?

17 A nd yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, O Lord God.

And yet this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; for 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, O Lord God!

18 W hat more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant.

What more can David say to You for thus honoring Your servant? For You know Your servant.

19 O Lord, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

O Lord, for Your servant’s sake and in accord with Your own heart, You have wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

20 O Lord, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

O Lord, there is none like You, nor is there any God beside You, according to all that our ears have heard.

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

And what nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to Himself as a people, making Yourself a name by great and terrible things, by driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed out of Egypt?

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

You made Your people Israel Your own forever, and You, Lord, became their God.

23 “ And now, O Lord, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, let it be established forever, and do as You have said.

Therefore now, Lord, let the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house be established forever, and do as You have said.

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

Let it be established and let Your name be magnified forever, saying, The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God; and the house of David Your servant will be established before You.

25 F or You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray before You.

For You, O my God, have told Your servant that You will build for him a house (a blessed posterity); therefore Your servant has found courage and confidence to pray before You.

26 A nd now, Lord, You are God, and have promised this goodness to Your servant.

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

27 N ow You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You have blessed it, O Lord, and it shall be blessed forever.”

Therefore may it please You to bless the house (posterity) of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for what You bless, O Lord, is blessed forever.