CHAPTER 7
After
the king
had settled
into his palace
and the LORD
had given him rest
from all
his enemies
around him,
he
said
to
Nathan
the prophet,
“Here
I am,
living
in a house
of cedar,
while the ark
of God
remains
in
a tent.”
“Go
and tell
My servant
David
that this is what
the LORD
says:
Are you the one
to build
for Me
a house
to dwell in?
For
I have not
dwelt
in a house
from the day
I brought
the Israelites
out of Egypt
until
this
day,
but I have
moved about
with a tent
as My dwelling.
In all
My journeys
with all
the Israelites,
have I ever asked
any
of the leaders,
whom
I commanded
to shepherd
My people
Israel,
‘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
from 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.
I will give you rest
from all
your enemies.
The LORD
declares
to you
that He Himself
will establish
a house
for you.
And when
your days
are fulfilled
and you rest
with
your fathers,
I will raise up
your offspring
after you,
who
will come
from your own body,
and I will establish
his kingdom.
I
will be
his
Father,
and he
will be
My
son.
When
he does wrong,
I will discipline him
with the rod
of men
and with the blows
of the sons
of men.
But My loving devotion
will never
depart from him
as
I removed
it from
Saul,
whom
I moved out of
your way.
Your house
and kingdom
will endure
forever
before
Me,
and your 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 Lord
GOD,
You have also
spoken
about
the future
of the house
of Your servant.
Is this
Your custom
with man,
O Lord
GOD?
For the sake
of Your word
and according to Your own heart,
You have accomplished
this
great thing
and revealed it
to Your servant.
How
great You are,
O Lord
GOD!
For
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 Himself,
and to perform
for them
great
and awesome wonders
by driving out nations
and their gods
from before
Your people,
whom
You redeemed
for Yourself
from Egypt?
For You have established
Your people
Israel
as Your very own
forever,
and You,
O LORD,
have become
their God.
And now,
O LORD
God,
confirm
forever
the word
You have spoken
concerning
Your servant
and his house.
Do
as
You have promised,
so that Your name
will be magnified
forever
when it is said,
‘The LORD
of Hosts
is God
over
Israel.’
And the house
of Your servant
David
will be
established
before You.
For
You,
O LORD
of Hosts,
the God
of Israel,
have revealed this
to Your servant
when You said,
‘I will build
a house for you.’
Therefore
Your servant
has found
the courage
to offer
this
prayer
to You.
And now,
O Lord
GOD,
You
are
God!
Your words
are
true,
and You have promised
this
goodness
to
Your servant.
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 with Your blessing
the house
of Your servant
will be blessed forever.