^aWhen King David lived in his house (palace) and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to ^aNathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in ^ba house of cedar, but the ark of God ^cdwells within tent curtains.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “^aGo, do everything that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

4 But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “^aShould you be the one to build Me a house in which to dwell? 6 For ^aI have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought the sons (descendants) of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about ^bin a tent, even in a tabernacle. 7 ^aWherever I have gone with all the Israelites, did I speak a word to any from the tribes of Israel, ^bwhom 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, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “^aI took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, ^bto be ruler over My people Israel. 9 ^aI have been with you wherever you have gone, and ^bhave cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like that of the great men of the earth. 10 I will appoint a place for My people Israel and ^awill plant them, so that they may live in a place of their own and not be disturbed again. ^bThe ¹wicked will not afflict them again, as formerly, 11 even ^afrom the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and ^bI will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that ^cHe will make a house (royal dynasty) for you. 12 ^aWhen your days are fulfilled and you ^blie down in death with your fathers (ancestors) , ^cI will raise up your descendant after you, who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 ^aHe is the one who shall build a house for My ¹Name and My Presence, and ^bI will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 ^aI will be his Father, and he shall be My son. ^bWhen he commits iniquity (wrongdoing) , I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the strokes of the sons of man. 15 But My lovingkindness and mercy will not depart from him, ^aas I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 ^aYour house (royal dynasty) and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.”’” 17 Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and all of this vision.

18 Then King David went in and sat in prayer before the LORD, and said, “^aWho am I, O Lord ¹GOD, and what is my house (family) , that You have brought me this far? 19 Yet this was very insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, for ^aYou have spoken also of Your servant’s house (royal dynasty) in the distant future. And ^bthis is the law and custom of man, O Lord GOD. 20 What more can David say to You? For ^aYou know (acknowledge, choose) Your servant, O Lord GOD. 21 ^aBecause of Your word (promise) , and in accordance with Your own heart, You have done all these great and astounding things to let Your servant know (understand) . 22 Therefore ^aYou are great, O Lord GOD; for there is ^bnone like You, and there is no God besides You, ^caccording to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 ^aWhat one nation on earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to ^bdo great and awesome things for Yourself and for Your land, before ^cYour people whom ^dYou have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods? 24 ^aYou established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your people forever, and ^bYou, O LORD, have become their God. 25 Now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word of the covenant that You have spoken in regard to Your servant and his house (royal dynasty) ; and do just as You have spoken, 26 ^aso that Your Name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts (armies) is God over Israel;’ and may the house (royal dynasty) of Your servant David be established ¹before You. 27 For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have ¹revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘^aI will build you a house (royal dynasty) .’ For that reason Your servant has found ²courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and ^aYour words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 Therefore now, may it please You to bless the house (royal dynasty) of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and ^awith Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

^aNow it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 that the king said to ^aNathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in ^ba house of cedar, but the ark of God ^cdwells within tent curtains.” 3 Nathan said to the king, “^aGo, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you.”

4 But in the same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “^aAre you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? 6 For ^aI have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about ^bin a tent, even in a ¹tabernacle. 7 ^aWherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, ^bwhich I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

8 Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “^aI took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, ^bto be ruler over My people Israel. 9 ^aI have been with you wherever you have gone and ^bhave cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. 10 I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and ^awill plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, ^bnor will the ¹wicked afflict them any more as formerly, 11 even ^afrom the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and ^bI will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that ^cthe LORD will make a house for you. 12 ^aWhen your days are complete and you ^blie down with your fathers, ^cI will raise up your ¹descendant after you, who will come forth from ²you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 ^aHe shall build a house for My name, and ^bI will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 ^aI will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; ^bwhen he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, ^aas I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 ^aYour house and your kingdom shall endure before ¹Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

18 Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, “^aWho am I, O Lord ¹GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, ^afor You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And ^bthis is the ¹custom of man, O Lord GOD. 20 Again what more can David say to You? For ^aYou know Your servant, O Lord GOD! 21 ^aFor the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason ^aYou are great, O Lord GOD; for ^bthere is none like You, and there is no God besides You, ^caccording to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And ^awhat one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and ^bto do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before ^cYour people whom ^dYou have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods? 24 For ^aYou have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and ^bYou, O LORD, have become their God. 25 Now therefore, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken, 26 ^athat Your name may be magnified forever, by saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have ¹made a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘^aI will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found ²courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and ^aYour words are truth, and You have ¹promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken; and ^awith Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”