1 Chronicles 17

1 When David was living in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I live in a cedar house, but the ark of Yahweh’s covenant is in a tent.”

Once David had settled into his palace, he spoke to the prophet Nahum. “Look,” he said, “I'm living in a cedar palace while the Ark of the Lord's Agreement is kept in a tent!”

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

“Do what you think you should, for the God is with you,” Nathan replied.

3 That same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

But that night God told Nathan,

4 “Go and tell David my servant, ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not build me a house to dwell in;

“Go and talk to my servant David. Tell him, this is what the Lord says, You are not to build a house for me to live in.

5 for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tent to another.

I have not lived in a house from the time I led Israel out of Egypt until now. I have lived in tents, moving from place to place.

6 In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’

But in all those travels with all of Israel did I ever ask any Israelite leader I'd ordered to take care of my people, ‘Why haven't you built a cedar house for me?’

7 “Now therefore, you shall tell my servant David, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel.

So then, go and tell my servant David this is what the Lord Almighty says. It was me who took you from the fields, from looking after sheep, to become a leader of my people Israel.

8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

I have been with you wherever you've gone. I have struck down all your enemies right in front of you, and I will make your reputation as great as the most famous people on earth.

9 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. The children of wickedness will not waste them any more, as at the first,

I will choose a place for my people Israel. I will settle them there and they won't be disturbed anymore. Evil people won't persecute them as they used to,

10 and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will build you a house.

from the time I placed judges in charge of my people. I will defeat all of your enemies. Also I want to make it clear that I the Lord will build a house for you.

11 It will happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your offspring after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

For when you come to the end of your life and join your ancestors in death, I will bring to power one of your descendants, one of your sons, and make sure his kingdom is successful.

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

He will be the one to build me a house, and I will make sure his kingdom lasts forever.

13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not take my loving kindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you;

I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. I will never take away my kindness and love from him, as I did in the case of the one who ruled before you.

14 but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever. His throne will be established forever.”’”

I will put him in charge of my house and my kingdom forever, and his dynasty will last forever.”

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

This is what Nathan explained to David—everything he was told in this divine revelation.

16 Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh; and he said, “Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?

Then King David went and sat down in the presence of the Lord. He prayed, “Who am I, Lord God, and what is significant about my family, that you have brought me to this place?

17 This was a small thing in your eyes, O God, but you have spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the standard of a man of high degree, Yahweh God.

God, you talk as if this was a small thing in your eyes, and you also have spoken about the future of my house, my family dynasty. You also see me as someone very important, Lord God.

18 What can David say yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant.

What more can I, David, say to you for honoring me in this way? You know your servant all too well!

19 Yahweh, for your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

Lord, you're doing all this for me, your servant, and because it's what you want—doing all these amazing things and letting people know about them.

20 Yahweh, there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Lord, there really is no-one like you; there is no other God, only you. We have never heard about anyone else.

21 What one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people whom you redeemed out of Egypt?

Who else is as fortunate as your people Israel? Who else on earth did God go and redeem to make his own people? You gained a wonderful reputation for yourself by all the tremendous, amazing things you did in driving out other nations before your people as you redeemed them from Egypt.

22 For you made your people Israel your own people forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.

You made your people Israel your own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

23 Now, Yahweh, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken.

So now, Lord, please ensure that what you have said about me and my house happens, and lasts forever. Please do as you have promised,

24 Let your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. The house of David your servant is established before you.’

and may your true nature be recognized and honored forever, with people declaring, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, is Israel's God!’ May the house of your servant David continue to be there in your presence.

25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you.

You, my God, have explained to me, your servant, that you will build me a house. That's why your servant has had the courage to pray to you.

26 Now, Yahweh, you are God, and have promised this good thing to your servant.

For you, Lord, are God! You are the one who has promised all these good things to your servant.

27 Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”

So now, please bless your servant's house that it may continue in your presence forever. For when you bless, Lord, it is blessed forever.”