1Now 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.”

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

3But it happened that night that 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.

5For 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.

6Wherever 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?’ ” ’

7Now 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 17:7 leaderruler over My people Israel.

8And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have 17:8 given you prestigemade you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth.

9Moreover 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,

10since 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 17:10 Royal dynastyhouse.

11And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must 17:11 Die and join your ancestorsgo 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.

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

13I 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.

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

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

16Then 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?

17And 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.

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

19O 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.

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

21And 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?

22For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become 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.

24So 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.

25For You, O my God, 17:25 Lit. have uncovered the ear ofhave revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray before You.

26And now, Lord, 17:26 Or You alone areYou are God, and have promised this goodness to Your servant.

27Now 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.”