God’s Promise to David
1After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”
2Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.”
3But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:
4“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 5I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. 6Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders17:6 Traditionally judges; also in verse 10 whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’
7“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 8I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. 9And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 10and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.
“ ‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: 11When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.’ ”
15Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
David’s Prayer
16Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:
“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.
18“What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, 19Lord. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.
20“There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 21And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
23“And now, Lord, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, 24so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.
25“You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. 26You, Lord, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. 27Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”
God Makes a Promise to David
1David moved into his palace. Then he spoke to Nathan the prophet. He said, “Here I am, living in a house that has beautiful cedar walls. But the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”
2Nathan replied to David, “Do what you want to. God is with you.”
3But that night a message came to Nathan from God. He said,
4“Go and speak to my servant David. Tell him, ‘The Lord says, “You are not the one who will build me a house to live in. 5I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt until now. I have moved my tent from one place to another. I have moved my home from one place to another. 6I have moved from place to place with all the Israelites. I commanded their leaders to be shepherds over my people. I never asked any of those leaders, ‘Why haven’t you built me a house that has beautiful cedar walls?’ ” ’
7“So tell my servant David, ‘The Lord who rules over all says, “I took you away from the grasslands. That is where you were taking care of your father’s sheep and goats. I appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 8I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I destroyed all your enemies when you were attacking them. Now I will make you famous. Your name will be just as respected as the names of the most important people on earth. 9I will provide a place where my people Israel can live. I will plant them in the land. Then they will have a home of their own. They will not be bothered anymore. Sinful people will no longer crush them, as they did at first. 10That is what your enemies have done ever since I appointed leaders over my people Israel. But I will bring all your enemies under your control.
“ ‘ “I tell you that I, the Lord, will build a royal house for your family. 11Some day your life will come to an end. You will join the members of your family who have already died. Then I will give you one of your own sons to become the next king after you. I will make his kingdom secure. 12He is the one who will build me a house. I will set up his throne. It will last forever. 13I will be his father. And he will be my son. I took my love away from the man who ruled before you. But I will never take my love away from your son. 14I will place him over my house and my kingdom forever. His throne will last forever.” ’ ”
15Nathan reported to David all the words that the Lord had spoken to him.
David’s Prayer
16Then King David went into the holy tent. He sat down in front of the Lord. He said,
“Lord God, who am I? My family isn’t important. So why have you brought me this far? 17I would have thought that you had already done more than enough for me. But now, my God, you have spoken about my royal house. You have said what will happen to it in days to come. Lord God, you have treated me as if I were the most honored man of all.
18“What more can I say to you for honoring me? You know all about me. 19Lord, you have done a wonderful thing. You have given me many great promises. All of them are for my good. They are exactly what you wanted to give me.
20“Lord, there isn’t anyone like you. There isn’t any God but you. We have heard about it with our own ears. 21Who is like your people Israel? God, we are the one nation on earth you have saved. You have set us free for yourself. Your name has become famous. You have done great and wonderful things. You have driven out nations to make room for your people. You saved us when you set us free from Egypt. 22You made Israel your very own people forever. Lord, you have become our God.
23“And now, Lord, let the promise you have made to me and my royal house stand forever. Do exactly as you promised. 24When your promise comes true, your name will be honored forever. People will say, ‘The Lord rules over all. He is the God over Israel. He is Israel’s God!’ My royal house will be made secure in your sight.
25“My God, you have shown me that you will build me a royal house. So I can pray to you boldly. 26You, Lord, are God! You have promised many good things to me. 27You have been pleased to bless my royal house. Now it will continue forever in your sight. Lord, you have blessed it. And it will be blessed forever.”
