2 Samuel 7

David Wants to Build a Temple

1 King David was living in his palace, and the Lord had given him peace from all his enemies around him.

2 Then David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!”

3 Nathan said to the king, “Go and do what you really want to do, because the Lord is with you.”
4 But that night the Lord spoke his word to Nathan,5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Will you build a house for me to live in?6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home.

7 As I have moved with the Israelites, I have never said to the tribes, whom I commanded to take care of my people Israel, “Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?” ’
8 “You must tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: I took you from the pasture and from tending the sheep and made you leader of my people Israel.9 I have been with you everywhere you have gone and have defeated your enemies for you. I will make you as famous as any of the great people on the earth.10 Also I will choose a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them so they can live in their own homes. They will not be bothered anymore. Wicked people will no longer bother them as they have in the past

11 when I chose judges for my people Israel. But I will give you peace from all your enemies. I also tell you that I will make your descendants kings of Israel after you.
12 “ ‘When you die and join your ancestors, I will make one of your sons the next king, and I will set up his kingdom.13 He will build a house for me, and I will let his kingdom rule always.14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he sins, I will use other people to punish him. They will be my whips.15 I took away my love from Saul, whom I removed before you, but I will never stop loving your son.

16 But your family and your kingdom will continue always before me. Your throne will last forever.’ ”

17 Nathan told David everything God had said in this vision.

David Prays to God

18 Then King David went in and sat in front of the Lord. David said, “Lord God, who am I? What is my family? Why did you bring me to this point?

19 But even this is not enough for you, Lord God. You have also made promises about my future family. This is extraordinary, Lord God.
20 “What more can I say to you, Lord God, since you know me, your servant, so well!21 You have done this great thing because you said you would and because you wanted to, and you have let me know about it.22 This is why you are great, Lord God! There is no one like you. There is no God except you. We have heard all this ourselves!23 There is no nation like your people Israel. They are the only people on earth that God chose to be his own. You made your name well known. You did great and wonderful miracles for them. You went ahead of them and forced other nations and their gods out of the land. You freed your people from slavery in Egypt.

24 You made the people of Israel your very own people forever, and, Lord, you are their God.
25 “Now, Lord God, keep the promise forever that you made about my family and me, your servant. Do what you have said.

26 Then you will be honored always, and people will say, ‘The Lord All-Powerful is God over Israel!’ And the family of your servant David will continue before you.
27 “Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, you have said to me, ‘I will make your family great.’ So I, your servant, am brave enough to pray to you.28 Lord God, you are God, and your words are true. And you have promised these good things to me, your servant.29 Please, bless my family. Let it continue before you always. Lord God, you have said so. With your blessing let my family always be blessed.”

2 Samuel 7

1 And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and Jehovah had given him rest from all his enemies round about,2 that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thy heart; for Jehovah is with thee.4 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of Jehovah came unto Nathan, saying,5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?6 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.7 In all places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedar?8 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over my people, over Israel;9 and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a great name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth.10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first,11 and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house.12 When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men;15 but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.16 And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

18 Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?19 And this was yet a small thing in thine eyes, O Lord Jehovah; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come; and this too after the manner of men, O Lord Jehovah!20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord Jehovah.21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make thy servant know it.22 Wherefore thou art great, O Jehovah God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and terrible things for thy land, before thy people, whom thou redeemest to thee out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods?24 And thou didst establish to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God.25 And now, O Jehovah God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, confirm thou it for ever, and do as thou hast spoken.26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of thy servant David shall be established before thee.27 For thou, O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.28 And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth, and thou hast promised this good thing unto thy servant:29 now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.