1 Chronicles 17

1When David settled in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, "See, I live in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is under curtains."

2Nathan said to David, "Do whatever is in your heart, for God is with you."

3That night, God's word reached Nathan, saying,

4Go and say to David my servant: Thus says Yahweh, "You shall not build me a house to dwell in."

5For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought Israel up until this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from tabernacle to tabernacle.

6In every place where I have walked among all Israel, did I ever speak a word to any of Israel's judges, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedars?"

7Now tell my servant David: Thus says Yahweh of hosts, I took you from the sheepfold, from tending the flock, to rule over my people Israel.

8I have been with you wherever you walked and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make a name for you like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

9I will appoint a place for my people Israel and plant them, and they will dwell in it and no longer be shaken; nor will the sons of iniquity continue to waste them, as formerly.

10From the days that I commanded judges over my people Israel, I will subdue all your enemies. I declare to you that Yahweh will build a house for you.

11It shall happen when your days are fulfilled for going with your fathers, that I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall be from your sons, and I will confirm his kingdom.

12He will build a house for me, and I will make his throne firm forever.

13I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me; I will not withdraw my favor from him, as I withdrew it from the one who was before you.

14I will establish him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will stand firm forever.

15In keeping with all these words and all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

16King David entered and sat before Yahweh and said, "Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?"

17This seemed small in your eyes, God, yet you spoke of your servant's house far into the future and regarded me according to the rank due a man of high degree, Yahweh God.

18What more can David add to you concerning the honor of your servant? You know your servant.

19Yahweh, for your servant's sake and according to your heart, you have done all this greatness to make all these great things known.

20Yahweh, there is none like you, nor any God besides you, in all that we have heard with our ears.

21Who is like your people Israel, a unique nation on earth whom God went to redeem for himself as a people, to make you a name by great and fearsome deeds in driving nations out from before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt?

22You made your people Israel your people forever, and you, Yahweh, became their God.

23Now, Yahweh, let the word that you spoke concerning your servant and his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken.

24Let it stand firm and your name be magnified forever, saying, "Yahweh of hosts is the God of Israel, God to Israel, and the house of David your servant is established before you."

25For you, my God, have made it known to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found boldness to pray before you.

26Now, Yahweh, you yourself are God, and you have spoken this good concerning your servant.

27Now you have been pleased to bless your servant's house, that it may be forever before you; for you, Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.