1The king settled into his palace, for the LORD gave him relief from all his enemies on all sides. | 1The king settled into his palace, for the LORD gave him relief from all his enemies on all sides. |
2The king said to Nathan the prophet, "Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent." | 2The king said to Nathan the prophet, "Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent." |
3Nathan replied to the king, "You should go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you." | 3Nathan replied to the king, "You should go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you." |
4That night the LORD told Nathan, | 4That night the LORD told Nathan, |
5"Go, tell my servant David: 'This is what the LORD says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in? | 5"Go, tell my servant David: 'This is what the LORD says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in? |
6I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent. | 6I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent. |
7Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?"' | 7Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?"' |
8"So now, say this to my servant David: 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you leader of my people Israel. | 8"So now, say this to my servant David: 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you leader of my people Israel. |
9I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. | 9I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. |
10I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed any more. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning | 10I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed any more. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning |
11and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that he himself will build a dynastic house for you. | 11and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that he himself will build a dynastic house for you. |
12When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. | 12When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. |
13He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent. | 13He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent. |
14I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings. | 14I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings. |
15But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. | 15But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. |
16Your house and your kingdom will stand before me permanently; your dynasty will be permanent.'" | 16Your house and your kingdom will stand before me permanently; your dynasty will be permanent.'" |
17Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him. | 17Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him. |
18King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point? | 18King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point? |
19And you didn't stop there, O LORD God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant's family. Is this your usual way of dealing with men, O LORD God? | 19And you didn't stop there, O LORD God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant's family. Is this your usual way of dealing with men, O LORD God? |
20What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, O LORD God! | 20What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, O LORD God! |
21For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant. | 21For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant. |
22Therefore you are great, O LORD God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true! | 22Therefore you are great, O LORD God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true! |
23Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation on the earth? Their God went to claim a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land, before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods. | 23Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation on the earth? Their God went to claim a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land, before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods. |
24You made Israel your very own people for all time. You, O LORD, became their God. | 24You made Israel your very own people for all time. You, O LORD, became their God. |
25So now, O LORD God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality. Do as you promised, | 25So now, O LORD God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality. Do as you promised, |
26so you may gain lasting fame, as people say, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel!' The dynasty of your servant David will be established before you, | 26so you may gain lasting fame, as people say, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel!' The dynasty of your servant David will be established before you, |
27for you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have told your servant, 'I will build you a dynastic house.' That is why your servant has had the courage to pray this prayer to you. | 27for you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have told your servant, 'I will build you a dynastic house.' That is why your servant has had the courage to pray this prayer to you. |
28Now, O sovereign LORD, you are the true God! May your words prove to be true! You have made this good promise to your servant! | 28Now, O sovereign LORD, you are the true God! May your words prove to be true! You have made this good promise to your servant! |
29Now be willing to bless your servant's dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O sovereign LORD, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant's dynasty be blessed on into the future!" | 29Now be willing to bless your servant's dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O sovereign LORD, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant's dynasty be blessed on into the future!" |
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