1
When David moved into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar, but the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord sits in a tent."
2
Nathan said to David, "Do what you want to do, because God is with you."
3
But that night God spoke his word to Nathan, saying,
4
"Go and tell David my servant, 'This is what the Lord says: You are not the person to build a house for me to live in.
5
From the time I brought Israel out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have moved from one tent site to another and from one place to another.
6
As I have moved with the Israelites to different places, I have never said to the leaders, whom I commanded to take care of my people, "Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?"'
7
"Now, tell my servant David: 'This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: I took you from the pasture and from tending the sheep and made you king of my people Israel.