2 Samuel 7

1When the king was living in his house and Yahweh had given him rest from all the enemies that surrounded him,

2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays inside a tent.”

3Nathan said to the king, “Whatever is in your heart, go and do it, for Yahweh is with you.”

4That night, however, the word of Yahweh came to Nathan:

5“Go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what Yahweh says: Is it you who will build a house for me to live in?

6From the day I brought the people of Israel up from Egypt until today, I have not lived in a house; I have gone from place to place in a tent and a tabernacle.

7In all my moving about among the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word to one of the tribes of Israel that I commanded to shepherd my people Israel and ask, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

8So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what Yahweh of Armies says: I took you out of the pasture, from walking behind the sheep, to be ruler over my people Israel.

9I have been with you everywhere you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will give you a great name, like the names of the greatest on earth.

10I will set aside a place for my people Israel and plant them there, so that they can settle in their own place and never again be troubled. The wicked will not oppress them again as they did at first,

11and as they have done since the day I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will grant you rest from all your enemies. Yahweh announces to you that Yahweh will make you a house.

12When your days are complete and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your own offspring, who will come from your body, and I will make his kingdom secure.

13It is he who will build a house for my name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom firm forever.

14I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod that men wield and with blows that human beings deal out.

15But my steadfast love will not be withdrawn from him the way I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

16Your house and your kingdom will be made firm forever before you; your throne will stand secure forever.’”

17Nathan told David all these words and this whole vision.

18Then King David went in, sat before Yahweh, and said, “Lord Yahweh, who am I, and what is my house, that you have brought me as far as this?

19Yet even this seemed too small a thing to you, Lord Yahweh, so you have also spoken of your servant’s house far into the future. Is this how you deal with a mere man, Lord Yahweh?

20What more is there for David to say to you? You yourself know your servant, Lord Yahweh.

21For the sake of your word and in keeping with your own heart, you have accomplished all these great things to reveal them to your servant.

22That is why you are great, Lord Yahweh. No one compares with you, and apart from you there is no God, in all that we have heard with our own ears.

23Who can compare with your people Israel, the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as his own people, to make a name for himself, and to do great and awesome things for you and for your land, before your people whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

24You firmly established your people Israel for yourself as your own people forever, and you, Yahweh, have become their God.

25So now, Yahweh God, make the word you spoke about your servant and his house stand forever. Do what you said.

26Let your name be great forever, and let people say, ‘Yahweh of Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David be secure in your presence.

27For you, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, have opened your servant’s ear and said, ‘I will build you a house.’ So your servant has found it in his heart to offer this prayer to you.

28So now, Lord Yahweh, you are the one who is God. Your words are true, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

29Now be willing to bless your servant’s house, that it may remain before you forever. For you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken, and by your blessing may your servant’s house be blessed forever.”