Yahweh’s Covenant with David
1Once the king was settled in his house, and Yahweh had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God stays in a tent.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go and do whatever is in your heart, for Yahweh is with you.” 4But that same night the word of Yahweh came to Nathan: 5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what Yahweh says: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6I have not lived in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day; I have moved about in a tent, in a tabernacle. 7Wherever I have moved among all the Israelites, did I ever speak a word to any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 8Now then, tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel. 9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them there, so they may live in their own home and be disturbed no more. Evildoers will no longer afflict them as they did before, 11ever since the day I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. And Yahweh declares to you that Yahweh himself will make you a house. 12When your days are done and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He will build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. 14I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod wielded by men, with blows dealt by human hands, 15but my loyal love will never leave him as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed before you. 16Your house and your kingdom will stand secure before you forever, and your throne will be established forever.’” 17Nathan spoke all these words and this whole vision to David exactly as he had received it.
David’s Prayer
18King David then went in and sat before Yahweh and said, “Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far? 19And even this was a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh — you have spoken also about the future of your servant’s house. Is this how you deal with anyone, Lord Yahweh? 20What more can David say to you? You yourself know your servant, Lord Yahweh. 21Because of your word, and according to your own heart, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. 22How great you are, Lord Yahweh! There is none like you, and there is no God besides you, as we have always heard with our own ears. 23And who is like your people Israel — the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem for himself as a people, making a name for himself and doing great and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself out of Egypt, driving out nations and their gods? 24You have established your people Israel as your own people forever, and you, Yahweh, have become their God. 25Now, Yahweh God, keep forever the promise you have made about your servant and his house, and do as you have said, 26so that your name will be great forever, and people will say, ‘Yahweh of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And let the house of your servant David be established before you. 27For you, Yahweh of Hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’ — that is why your servant has found the courage to offer you this prayer. 28And now, Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised your servant this good thing. 29So now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue before you forever — for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken, and by your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”
