2 Samuel 7

1 It happened that after the king had settled in his house, and after Yahweh had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

By now the king was comfortable in his palace and the Lord had given him peace from all the enemy nations around him.

2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God is staying in the middle of a tent.”

So he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look at me—I live in a palace made of cedar, but the Ark of God is still in a tent.”

3 Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do what is in your heart, for Yahweh is with you.”

“Go ahead, do whatever you want, for the Lord is with you,” Nathan told the king.

4 But that same night the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying,

But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him,

5 “Go and tell David my servant, 'This is what Yahweh says: Will you build me a house in which to live?

“Go and tell my servant David, This is what the Lord says: Should you be the one to build a house for me to live in?

6 For I have not lived in a house from the day that I brought up the people of Israel out of Egypt until this present day; instead, I have been moving about in a tent, a tabernacle.

For I have never lived in a house, from the time I led the Israelites out of Egypt up till now. I have always moved from place to place, living in a tent and a Tabernacle.

7 In all places where I have moved among all the people of Israel, did I ever say anything to any of Israel's leaders whom I appointed to shepherd my people Israel, 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?’

8 Now then, tell my servant David, “This is what Yahweh of hosts says: 'I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, so that you would be ruler over my people Israel.

So then, 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.

9 I have been with you wherever you went. I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the great ones of the earth.

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

10 I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them there, so that they may live in their own place and be troubled no more. No longer will wicked people oppress them, as they did before,

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,

11 as they were doing from the days that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Now I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, I, Yahweh declare to you that I will make 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.

12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up a descendant after you, one who will come out from your body, 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.

13 He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

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

14 I will be a father to him, and he will be my son. When he sins, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the whipping of the sons of men.

I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. If he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod like people do, like a parent punishing a child.

15 But my covenant faithfulness will not leave him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

But I will never take away my kindness and love from him, as I did in the case of Saul who I removed before you.

16 Your house and kingdom will be confirmed forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.'”

Your house and your kingdom will last forever; your dynasty will be secure forever.”

17 Nathan spoke to David and reported to him all these words, and he told him about the entire vision.

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

18 Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh and said, “Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my family that you have brought me to this point?

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?

19 Now this was a small thing in your sight, Lord Yahweh. You have even spoken about your servant's family for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, Lord Yahweh!

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. Is this your usual way of dealing with human beings, Lord God?

20 What more can I, David, say to you? You have known your servant, Lord Yahweh.

What more can I, David, tell you? You know exactly what your servant is like, Lord God.

21 For your word's sake, and to fulfill your own purpose, you have done this great thing and revealed it to your servant.

You're doing all this for me and you have explained it to me, your servant, and because of your promise and because it's what you want to do.

22 Therefore you are great, Lord Yahweh, for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as we have heard with our own ears.

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

23 What nation is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom you, God, went and rescued for yourself? You did this so that they would become a people for yourself, to make a name for yourself, and to do great and fearful deeds for your land. You drove out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you rescued from 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 and their gods before your people as you redeemed them from Egypt.

24 You established Israel as 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.

25 So now, Yahweh God, may the promise that you made concerning your servant and his family be established forever. Do as you have spoken.

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

26 May your name be forever great, so the people will say, 'Yahweh of hosts is the God of Israel,' while the house of me, David, your servant is established before you.

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

27 For you, Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. That is why I, your servant, have found courage to pray to you.

Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to me, your servant, telling me, ‘I will build a house for you.’ That's why your servant has had the courage to pray this prayer to you.

28 Now, Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are trustworthy, and you have made this good promise to your servant.

Lord Almighty, you are God! Your words are truth, and you are the one who has promised these good things to your servant.

29 Now then, let it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, Lord Yahweh, have said these things, and with your blessing your servant's house will be blessed forever.”

So now, please bless your servant's house that it may continue in your presence forever. For you have spoken, Lord God, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”