CHAPTER 17
After
David
had settled
into his palace,
he
said
to
Nathan
the prophet,
“Here
I am,
living
in a house
of cedar,
while the ark
of the covenant
of the LORD
is under
a tent.”
“Go
and tell
My servant
David
that this is what
the LORD
says:
You
are not
the one to build
a house
for Me
to dwell in.
For
I have not
dwelt
in a house
from
the day
I brought
Israel up from Egypt
until
this
day,
but I have moved
from tent
to
tent
and dwelling to dwelling.
In all
My journeys
with all
the Israelites,
have I ever asked
any
of the leaders
of Israel,
whom
I commanded
to shepherd
My people,
‘Why
have you not
built
Me
a house
of cedar?’
Now
then,
you are to tell
My servant
David
that
this is what
the LORD
of Hosts
says:
I
took
you from
the pasture,
from
following
the flock,
to be
the ruler
over
My people
Israel.
I have been
with you
wherever
you have gone,
and I have cut off
all
your enemies
before you.
Now I will make
for you
a name
like
the greatest
in the land.
And I will provide
a place
for My people
Israel
and will plant them
so that they may dwell in
a place of their own
and be disturbed
no
more.
No
longer
will the sons
of wickedness
oppress them
as they did
at the beginning
and have done since the day
I appointed
judges
over
My people
Israel.
And I will subdue
all
your enemies.
Moreover, I declare
to you
that the LORD
will build
a house
for you.
And
when
your days
are fulfilled
and you go to be
with
your fathers,
I will raise up
your offspring
after you,
one of your own sons,
and I will establish
his kingdom.
I
will be
his
Father,
and he
will be
My
son.
And My loving devotion
will never
depart
from him
as
I removed it
from your predecessor.
But I will set him
over My house
and My kingdom
forever,
and his throne
will be
established
forever.”
Then King
David
went in,
sat
before
the LORD,
and said,
“Who
am I,
O LORD
God,
and what
is my house,
that
You have brought me
this far?
And as if this
was a small thing
in Your eyes,
O God,
You have spoken
about
the future
of the house
of Your servant
and have regarded me
as a man
of great distinction,
O LORD
God.
O LORD,
for the sake
of Your servant
and according to Your own heart,
You have accomplished
this
great thing
and revealed
all
Your greatness.
O LORD,
there is none
like You,
and there is no
God
besides You,
according to everything
we have heard
with our own ears.
And who
is like Your people
Israel—
the one
nation
on earth
whom
God
went out
to redeem
as a people
for Himself,
to make
a name
for Yourself
through great
and awesome wonders
by driving out
nations
from before
Your people,
whom
You redeemed
from Egypt?
For You have made
Your people
Israel
Your very own
forever,
and You,
O LORD,
have become
their God.
And now,
O LORD,
let the word
You have spoken
concerning
Your servant
and his house
be established
forever.
Do
as
You have promised,
so that Your name
will be established
and magnified
forever
when it is said,
‘The LORD
of Hosts,
the God
of Israel,
is God
over Israel.’
And may the house
of Your servant
David
be established
before You.
For
You,
my God,
have revealed
to Your servant
that You will build
a house
for him.
Therefore
Your servant
has found the courage
to pray
before You.
So now
You have been pleased
to bless
the house
of Your servant,
that it may continue
forever
before You.
For
You,
O LORD,
have blessed it,
and it will be blessed
forever.”