1 Once David was settled in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD stays under curtains."
2 And Nathan told David, "Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you."
3 But that very night the word of God came to Nathan:
4 "Go, say to David my servant, 'This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me the house for me to dwell in.
5 For from the day I brought Israel up until now I have not dwelt in a house; I have gone from tent to tent and from tabernacle to tabernacle.
6 In all the places where I have walked about with all Israel, did I ever say a word to any of Israel's judges, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'
7 So now, say this to my servant David: 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: I took you from the pastureland, from behind the flock, to be prince over my people Israel.
8 I have been with you everywhere you have gone, and I have cut down all your enemies in front of you. I will make you a name like the names of the great men of the earth.
9 I will set aside a place for my people Israel and plant them there, so that they can live where they are and be troubled no longer. Violent men will not oppress them anymore as they did at first,
10 and from the time I put judges over my people Israel. I will bring all your enemies low. And I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you.
11 When your days are complete and you go to join your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, one who will come from your sons, and I will make his kingdom firm.
12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will make his throne firm forever.
13 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. I will not withdraw my steadfast love from him as I withdrew it from the one who came before you.
14 I will establish him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will stand firm for all time.'"
15 Nathan told David all these words, exactly according to this whole vision.
16 King David went in, sat down before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me as far as this?
17 Yet even this was too little in your sight, O God, and you have spoken about your servant's house far into the future, and have regarded me as a man of high rank, LORD God.
18 What else can David add to you concerning the honor shown your servant? You know your servant.
19 LORD, for the sake of your servant and as your heart desired, you have done all this great thing, making known all these great deeds.
20 LORD, no one is like you, and there is no God but you, in all that our ears have heard.
21 And what other nation on earth is like your people Israel, whom God went out to redeem as a people for himself, to win yourself a name by great and fearsome deeds, driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed out of Egypt?
22 You made your people Israel your own people for all time, and you, LORD, became their God.
23 Now, LORD, may the word you have spoken about your servant and his house stand firm forever; do just as you have said.
24 May it stand firm, and may your name be great forever, so that people say, 'The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God'; and may the house of your servant David be secure in your presence.
25 For you, my God, have opened your servant's ear that you will build him a house; that is why your servant has found it in his heart to pray to you.
26 And now, LORD, you are the God, and you have spoken this good promise to your servant.
27 So now you have been pleased to bless your servant's house, so that it may remain before you forever; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and blessed it remains forever."