2 Samuel 7 | King James Version

King James Version

1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee. 4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, 5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? 8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, 11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. 12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. 17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. 18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant' house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? 20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. 21 For thy word' sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them . 22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. 25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. 26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. 27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. 28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: 29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it : and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

New International Reader’s Version

God’s promise to David

1 The king moved into his palace. The LORD had given him peace and rest from all his enemies around him. 2 Then the king spoke to Nathan the prophet. He said, ‘Here I am, living in a house that has beautiful cedar walls. But the ark of God remains in a tent.’ 3 Nathan replied to the king, ‘Go ahead and do what you want to. The LORD is with you.’ 4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan. The LORD said, 5 ‘Go and speak to my servant David. Tell him, “The LORD says, ‘Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6 I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt. But I have not lived in a house from then until now. I have been moving from place to place. I have been living in a tent. 7 I have moved from place to place with all the Israelites. I commanded their rulers to be shepherds over them. I never asked any of those rulers, “Why haven’t you built me a house that has beautiful cedar walls?” ’ ” 8 ‘So tell my servant David, “The LORD who rules over all says, ‘I took you away from the grasslands. That’s where you were taking care of your father’s sheep and goats. I made you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I have destroyed all your enemies. Now I will make you famous. Your name will be just as respected as the names of the most important people on earth. 10 I will provide a place where my people Israel can live. I will plant them in the land. Then they will have a home of their own. They will not be bothered anymore. Evil people will no longer crush them, as they did at first. 11 That is what your enemies have done ever since I appointed leaders over my people Israel. But I will give you peace and rest from all of them. ‘ “ ‘I tell you that I, the LORD, will set up a royal house for you. 12 Some day your life will come to an end. You will join the members of your family who have already died. Then I will make one of your own sons the next king after you. And I will make his kingdom secure. 13 He is the one who will build a house where I will put my Name. I will set up the throne of his kingdom. It will last for ever. 14 I will be his father. And he will be my son. When he does what is wrong, I will use other men to beat him with rods and whips. 15 I took my love away from Saul. I removed him from being king. You were there when I did it. But I will never take my love away from your son. 16 Your royal house and your kingdom will last for ever in my sight. Your throne will last for ever.’ ” ’ 17 Nathan reported to David all the words that the LORD had spoken to him.

David’s prayer to the Lord

18 Then King David went into the holy tent. He sat down in front of the LORD. He said, ‘LORD and King, who am I? My family isn’t important. So why have you brought me this far? 19 I would have thought that you had already done more than enough for me. But now, LORD and King, you have also said what will happen to my royal house in days to come. And, my LORD and King, this promise is for a mere human being! 20 ‘What more can I say to you? LORD and King, you know all about me. 21 You have done a wonderful thing. You have made it known to me. You have done it because that’s what you said you would do. It’s exactly what you wanted to do for me. 22 ‘LORD and King, how great you are! There isn’t anyone like you. There isn’t any God but you. We have heard about it with our own ears. 23 Who is like your people Israel? God, we are the one nation on earth you have saved. You have set us free for yourself. Your name has become famous. You have done great and wonderful things. You have driven out nations and their gods to make room for your people. You saved us when you set us free from Egypt. 24 You made Israel your very own people for ever. LORD, you have become our God. 25 ‘And now, LORD God, keep for ever the promise you have made to me and my royal house. Do exactly as you promised. 26 Then your name will be honoured for ever. People will say, “The LORD rules over all. He is God over Israel.” My royal house will be made secure in your sight. 27 ‘LORD who rules over all, you are the God of Israel. Here’s what you have shown me. You told me, “I will build you a royal house.” So I can boldly pray this prayer to you. 28 LORD and King, you are God! Your covenant can be trusted. You have promised many good things to me. 29 Now please bless my royal house. Then it will continue for ever in your sight. LORD and King, you have spoken. Because you have given my royal house your blessing, it will be blessed for ever.’