1And it happened, when the king dwelt in his house, and Yahweh had given him rest all around from all his enemies,
2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells within the tent curtain.”
3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for Yahweh is with you.”
4And it happened that night that the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying,
5“Go and say to my servant, to David, ‘Thus says Yahweh: Are you the one who will build me a house for me to dwell in?
6For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought up the sons of Israel out of Egypt until this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7In all the places I moved about among all the sons of Israel, did I ever speak a word to one of the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”
8“And now, thus you shall say to my servant, to David, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be leader over my people, over Israel.
9And I have been with you wherever you went, and I 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 who are in the earth.
10And I will set a place for my people, for Israel, and I will plant them, and they will dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more; and the sons of injustice will no longer afflict them as at the first,
11even from the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. And Yahweh will declare to you that Yahweh will make you a house.
12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, who will come out of your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me — when he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of humankind,
15but my loyal love will not depart from him, as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16And your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you; your throne will be established forever.”
17According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
18Then King David went in and sat before Yahweh, and he said, “Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh, so you have also spoken concerning the house of your servant for a great while to come. And this is the law of humankind, Lord Yahweh!
20And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Lord Yahweh.
21For the sake of your word and according to your own heart you have done all this greatness, making it known to your servant.
22Therefore you are great, Lord Yahweh, for there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23And who is like your people, like Israel, one nation on the earth, whom God went to redeem for himself as a people, and to make himself a name, and to do for you the great and awesome things — for your land, before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, nations and their gods?
24And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.
25And now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house — confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken.
26And may your name be great forever, so that it is said, ‘Yahweh of hosts is God over Israel,’ and may the house of your servant David be established before you.
27For you, Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, have uncovered the ear of your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found the heart to pray this prayer to you.
28And now, Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have spoken this good thing to your servant.
29And now, be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may be forever before you; for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken, and by your blessing may the house of your servant be blessed forever.”
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