11Now it came about when the kinglived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on everyside from all his enemies,
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that the kingsaid to 2Nathan the prophet, "Seenow, I dwell in 3a house of cedar, but the ark of God4dwellswithintentcurtains."
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Nathansaid to the king, "5Go, doall that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you."
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But in the samenight the word of the LORDcame to Nathan, saying,
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"Go and say to My servantDavid, 'Thussays the LORD, "6Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?
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"For 7I have not dwelt in a housesince the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to thisday; but I have beenmoving about 8in a tent, even in a tabernacle.
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"9Wherever* I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, 10which I commanded to shepherd My peopleIsrael, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?' "'
God's Covenant with David
8"Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servantDavid, 'Thussays the LORD of hosts, "11I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, 12to be rulerover My peopleIsrael.
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"13I have been with you wherever* you have gone and 14have cutoffall your enemies from before you; and I will make you a greatname, like the names of the greatmenwho are on the earth.
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"I will also appoint a place for My peopleIsrael and 15will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbedagain, 16nor will the wicked*afflict them anymore as formerly,
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even 17from the day that I commandedjudges to be over My peopleIsrael; and 18I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that 19the LORD will make a house for you.
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"20When your days are complete and you 21liedown with your fathers, 22I will raise up your descendantafter you, who will comeforth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
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"23He shall build a house for My name, and 24I will establish the throne of his kingdomforever*.
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"25I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; 26when he commitsiniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,
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but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, 27as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
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"28Your house and your kingdom shall endurebefore Me forever*; your throne shall be establishedforever*.""'
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In accordance with allthesewords and allthisvision, soNathanspoke to David.
David's Prayer
18 Then David the kingwent in and satbefore the LORD, and he said, "29Who am I, O LordGOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me thisfar?
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"And yetthis was insignificant in Your eyes, O LordGOD, 30for You have spokenalso of the house of Your servant concerning the distantfuture. And 31this is the custom of man, O LordGOD.
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"Againwhatmore can Davidsay to You? For 32You know Your servant, O LordGOD!
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"33For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have doneallthisgreatness to let Your servantknow.
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"For thisreason*34You are great, O LordGOD; for 35there is nonelike You, and there is noGodbesides You, 36according to all that we have heard with our ears.
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"And 37whatonenation on the earth is like Your peopleIsrael, whomGodwent to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and 38to do a greatthing for You and awesomethings for Your land, before*39Your peoplewhom40You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?
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"For 41You have established for Yourself Your peopleIsrael as Your own peopleforever*, and 42You, O LORD, have become their God.
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"Now therefore, O LORDGod, the word that You have spokenconcerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever*, and do as You have spoken,
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43that Your name may be magnifiedforever*, by saying, 'The LORD of hosts is GodoverIsrael '; and may the house of Your servantDavid be establishedbefore You.
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"For You, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation* to Your servant, saying, '44I will build you a house '; therefore* Your servant has foundcourage to praythisprayer to You.
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"Now, O LordGOD, You are God, and 45Your words are truth, and You have promisedthisgoodthing to Your servant.
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"Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continueforeverbefore You. For You, O LordGOD, have spoken; and 46with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessedforever."