aAnd it came about, when
David
dwelt
in his house
, that David
said
to Nathan
the prophet
, "Behold
, I am dwelling
in a house
of cedar
, but the ark
of the covenant
of the LORD
is under
curtains
."
Then Nathan said
to David
, "Do
all
that is in your heart
, for God
is with you."
It came about the same
night
that the word
of God
came
to Nathan
, saying
,
"Go and tell
David
My servant
, `Thus
says
the LORD
, " aYou shall not build
a house
for Me to dwell
in;
for I have not dwelt in a house
since
the day
that I brought
up Israel
to this
day
, abut I have 1gone
from tent
to tent
and from one dwelling
place
to another.
"In all places where
I have walked
with all
Israel
, have I spoken
a word
awith any
of the judges
of Israel
, whom
I commanded
to shepherd
My people
, saying
, `Why
have you not built
for Me a house
of cedar
?' "'
"Now, therefore, thus
shall you say
to My servant
David
, `Thus
says
the LORD
of hosts
, "I took
you from the pasture
, from following
the sheep
, to be leader
over
My people
Israel
.
"I have been with you wherever
you have gone
, and have cut
off
all
your enemies
from before
you; and I will make
you a name
like the name
of the great
ones
who
are in the earth
.
"I will appoint a place
for My people
Israel
, and will plant
them, so that they may dwell
in their own place
and not be moved
again
; and the 1wicked
will not waste
them anymore
as formerly
,
even from the day that I commanded
judges
to be over
My people
Israel
. And I will subdue
all
your enemies
.
Moreover, I tell you that the LORD
will build
a house
for you.
"When your days
are fulfilled
that you must go
to be with your fathers
, that I will set
up one of your 1descendants
after
you, who
will be of your sons
; and I will establish
his kingdom
.
"He shall build for Me a house
, and I will establish
his throne
forever
.
" aI will be his father and he shall be My son
; and I will not take
My lovingkindness
away
from him, bas I took
it from him who
was before
you.
"But I will settle him in My house
and in My kingdom
forever
, and his throne
shall be established
forever
.""'
According to all these
words
and according to all
this
vision
, so
Nathan
spoke
to David
.
Then David the king
went
in and sat
before
the LORD
and said
, " aWho
am I, O LORD
God
, and what
is my house
that You have brought
me this
far
?
"This was a small
thing
in Your eyes
, O God
; but You have spoken
of Your servant's
house
for a great
while
to come
, and have regarded
me according to the standard
of a man
of high
degree
, O LORD
God
.
"What more
can David
still
say to You concerning the honor
bestowed on Your servant
? For You know
Your servant
.
"O LORD, afor Your servant's
sake
, and according to Your own heart
, You have wrought
all
this
greatness
, to make
known
all
these great
things
.
"O LORD, there
is none
like
You, nor
is there
any God
besides
You, according to all
that we have heard
with our ears
.
"And what one
nation
in the earth
is like Your people
Israel
, whom
God
went
to redeem
for Himself as a people
, to make
You a name
by great
and terrible
things
, in driving
out nations
from before
Your people
, whom
You redeemed
out of Egypt
?
" aFor Your people Israel
You made
Your own people
forever
, and You, O LORD
, became
their God
.
"Now, O LORD
, let the word
that You have spoken
concerning
Your servant
and concerning
his house
be established
forever
, and do
as You have spoken
.
"Let Your name be established
and magnified
forever
, saying
, `The LORD
of hosts
is the God
of Israel
, even a God
to Israel
; and the house
of David
Your servant
is established
before
You.'
"For You, O my God, have revealed
to Your servant
that You will build
for him a house
; therefore
Your servant
has found
courage to pray
before
You.
"Now, O LORD
, You are God
, and have 1promised
this
good
thing
to Your servant
.
"And now it has pleased
You to bless
the house
of Your servant
, that it may 1continue
forever
before
You; for You, O LORD
, have blessed
, and it is blessed
forever
."