Yahweh’s Covenant with David
1When David was living in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “See, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is under curtains.” 2Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” 3But that same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4“Go and tell David my servant: Thus says Yahweh — you are not the one to build me a house to live in. 5For I have not lived in a house from the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent, and from one dwelling to another. 6In all the places where I have walked among all Israel, did I ever speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ 7Now then, say this to my servant David: ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over my people Israel. 8I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you, and I will make you a name like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9I will appoint a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live in their own place and be disturbed no more; the wicked will not afflict them anymore, as they did at first, 10from the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. And I declare to you that Yahweh will build you a house. 11When your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13I will be his father, and he will be my son; I will not take my steadfast love away from him, as I took it away from the one who was before you. 14I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.’” 15Nathan spoke to David according to all these words and according to all this vision. 16Then King David went in and sat before Yahweh, and said, “Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far? 17And even this was a small thing in your eyes, God; you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a long time to come, and you have regarded me as a man of high standing, Yahweh God. 18What more can David say to you for the honor shown to your servant? For you know your servant. 19Yahweh, for the sake of your servant, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things. 20Yahweh, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our own ears. 21And who is like your people Israel, one nation on earth, whom God went to redeem for himself as a people, to make for yourself a name of greatness and wonder, by driving out nations before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22You made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, Yahweh, became their God. 23Now, Yahweh, let the word that you spoke concerning your servant and his house be confirmed forever, and do as you have said. 24Let it be confirmed, and let your name be magnified forever, so that it will be said, ‘Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, is God over Israel,’ and let the house of your servant David be established before you. 25For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house; therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. 26And now, Yahweh, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue before you forever; for you, Yahweh, have blessed it, and it is blessed forever.”
