¹When the king lived in his house , and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around ,

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

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

⁴That same night , the LORD ’s word came to Nathan , saying ,

⁵“Go and tell my servant David , ‘The LORD says , “Should you build me a house for me to dwell in ?

⁶For I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt , even to this day , but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle .

⁷In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel , did I say a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel , saying , ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’

⁸Now therefore tell my servant David this : ‘The LORD of Armies says , “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep , to be prince over my people , over Israel .

⁹I have been with you wherever you went , and have cut off all your enemies from before you . I will make you a great name , like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

¹⁰I 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 . The children of wickedness will not afflict them any more , as at the first ,

¹¹and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel . I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD tells you that the LORD will make you a house .

¹²When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you , who will proceed out of your body , and I will establish his kingdom .

¹³He will build a house for my name , and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever .

¹⁴I will be his father , and he will be my son . If he commits iniquity , I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men ;

¹⁵but my loving kindness will not depart from him , as I took it from Saul , whom I put away before you .

¹⁶Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you . Your throne will be established forever .”’”

¹⁷Nathan spoke to David all these words , and according to all this vision .

¹⁸Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD ; and he said, “Who am I , Lord GOD , and what is my house , that you have brought me this far ?[#7:18 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”]

¹⁹This was yet a small thing in your eyes , Lord GOD , but you have spoken also of your servant ’s house for a great while to come ; and this amongst men , Lord GOD !

²⁰What more can David say to you ? For you know your servant , Lord GOD .

²¹For your word ’s sake , and according to your own heart , you have worked all this greatness , to make your servant know it .

²²Therefore you are great , LORD God . For there is no one like you , neither is there any God besides you , according to all that we have heard with our ears.

²³What one nation in the earth is like your people , even like Israel , whom God went to redeem to himself for a people , and to make himself a name , and to do great things for you , and awesome things for your land , before your people , whom you redeemed to yourself out of Egypt , from the nations and their gods ?

²⁴You established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever ; and you , LORD , became their God .

²⁵“Now , LORD God , the word that you have spoken concerning your servant , and concerning his house , confirm it forever , and do as you have spoken .

²⁶Let your name be magnified forever , saying, ‘The LORD of Armies is God over Israel ; and the house of your servant David will be established before you .’

²⁷For you , LORD of Armies , the God of Israel , have revealed to your servant , saying, ‘I will build you a house .’ Therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you .

²⁸“Now , O Lord GOD , you are God , and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant .

²⁹Now therefore , let it please you to bless the house of your servant , that it may continue forever before you ; for you , Lord GOD , have spoken it . Let the house of your servant be blessed forever with your blessing .”