God's Covenant with David
1 1Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD
2 had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,
2
the king said to
3Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell
4in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells
5in a tent."
3
And Nathan said to the king,
6"Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you."
4
But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
5
"Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD:
7Would you build me a house to dwell in?
6
I have not lived in a house
8since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about
9in a tent for my dwelling.
7
In all places where
10I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with
11any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded
12to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'
8
Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts,
13I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.
9
14And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
10
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel
15and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place
16and be disturbed no more.
17And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
11
18from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And
19I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that
20the LORD will make you a house.
12
21When your days are fulfilled and
22you lie down with your fathers,
23I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13
24He shall build a house for my name, and
25I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14
26I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity,
27I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
15
28but my steadfast love will not depart from him,
29as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.
16
30And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.
31 Your throne shall be established forever.'"
17
In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.