2 Samuel 7

David Desires to Build a House for the LORD

1When the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God lives within tent curtains.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

The LORD Speaks to Nathan

4But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5“Go and say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one who will build me a house for my dwelling? 6For I have not lived in a house from the day I brought up the children of Israel from Egypt until this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and dwelling. 7In all the places where I moved about among all the children of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’

I Took You from the Pasture

8“And now, thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler over my people, over Israel. 9I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth. 10I will appoint a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. Violent people shall no longer afflict them as formerly, 11from the day 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.

Your House and Kingdom Will Be Established

12“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with blows of the children of humanity. 15But my steadfast love shall not depart from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16Your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you; your throne shall be established forever.”

David Sits before the LORD

17According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. 18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said:

“Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far? 19And this was still a small thing in your eyes, Lord GOD, for you have spoken also concerning your servant’s house for a distant time. And this is instruction for humanity, Lord GOD. 20What more can David say to you? You yourself know your servant, Lord GOD. 21Because of your word and according to your heart you have done all this greatness, making it known to your servant.

There Is None Like You

22“Therefore you are great, Lord GOD, for there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23And who is like your people, like Israel, one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for himself as a people, to make a name for himself and to do for you great and awe-inspiring things for your land, before your people whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, nations and their gods? 24You established your people Israel for yourself as your people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.

Establish the House of Your Servant

25“And now, O LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as you have spoken. 26Let your name be great forever, saying, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel,’ and let the house of your servant David be established before you. 27For you, O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, have uncovered the ear of your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found his heart to pray this prayer to you. 28And now, Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have spoken this good thing to your servant. 29And now, be pleased to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, Lord GOD, have spoken, and from your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”