1 When the king was settled in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies round about,
2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God stays inside curtains."
3 Nathan told the king, "Go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you."
4 But that very night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:
5 "Go and say to my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Is it you who will build me a house to live in?
6 Since the day I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt until today I have not lived in a house; I have been going about in a tent for my dwelling.
7 Wherever I have gone about among all the children of Israel, did I ever say a word to any of the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'
8 So now, say this to my servant David: 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from behind the sheep, to be leader over my people Israel.
9 I have been with you everywhere you went, and I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great men of the earth.
10 I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them there, so that they can live in their own place and be troubled no more. Wicked men will not oppress them any longer as they did at first,
11 ever since the time I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. And the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you.
12 When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, one who will come from your own body, and I will make his kingship firm.
13 He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will make the throne of his kingship firm for ever.
14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod men use and with the strokes dealt by the sons of men;
15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16 Your house and your kingship will stand firm before you for ever; your throne will be made firm for ever.'"
17 Nathan spoke to David in keeping with all these words and with this whole vision.
18 Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me as far as this?
19 And even this was too small a thing in your sight, Lord GOD; you have also spoken of your servant's house for the distant future. And this is the instruction for mankind, Lord GOD!
20 What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord GOD.
21 Because of your word and in keeping with your heart you have done all these great things, to let your servant know.
22 That is why you are great, Lord GOD: there is none like you, and there is no God but you, by everything we have heard with our own ears.
23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth that God went to redeem as a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to do for you great and fearsome things for your land before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?
24 You established your people Israel for yourself as your own people for ever, and you, LORD, became their God.
25 So now, LORD God, confirm for ever the word you have spoken about your servant and his house, and do as you have said.
26 Let your name be great for ever, and let it be said, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel'; and let the house of your servant David stand firm before you.
27 For you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have opened your servant's ear, saying, 'I will build you a house.' That is why your servant has found the heart to pray this prayer to you.
28 And now, Lord GOD, you are God, your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
29 So now be pleased to bless your servant's house, so that it may remain before you for ever; for you, Lord GOD, have spoken, and by your blessing let your servant's house be blessed for ever."