1 Chronicles 17 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

God makes a promise to David

1 David moved into his palace. Then he spoke to Nathan the prophet. He said, ‘Here I am, living in a house that has beautiful cedar walls. But the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.’ 2 Nathan replied to David, ‘Do what you want to. God is with you.’ 3 But that night a message came to Nathan from God. He said, 4 ‘Go and speak to my servant David. Tell him, “The LORD says, ‘You are not the one who will build me a house to live in. 5 I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt until now. I have moved my tent from one place to another. I have moved my home from one place to another. 6 I have moved from place to place with all the Israelites. I commanded their leaders to be shepherds over my people. I never asked any of those leaders, “Why haven’t you built me a house that has beautiful cedar walls?” ’ ” 7 ‘So tell my servant David, “The LORD who rules over all says, ‘I took you away from the grasslands. That is where you were taking care of your father’s sheep and goats. I appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 8 I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I destroyed all your enemies when you were attacking them. Now I will make you famous. Your name will be just as respected as the names of the most important people on earth. 9 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. Sinful people will no longer crush them, as they did at first. 10 That is what your enemies have done ever since I appointed leaders over my people Israel. But I will bring all your enemies under your control. ‘ “ ‘I tell you that I, the LORD, will build a royal house for your family. 11 Some day your life will come to an end. You will join the members of your family who have already died. Then I will give you one of your own sons to become the next king after you. I will make his kingdom secure. 12 He is the one who will build me a house. I will set up his throne. It will last for ever. 13 I will be his father. And he will be my son. I took my love away from the man who ruled before you. But I will never take my love away from your son. 14 I will place him over my house and my kingdom for ever. His throne will last for ever.’ ” ’ 15 Nathan reported to David all the words that the LORD had spoken to him.

David’s prayer

16 Then King David went into the holy tent. He sat down in front of the LORD. He said, ‘LORD God, who am I? My family isn’t important. So why have you brought me this far? 17 I would have thought that you had already done more than enough for me. But now, my God, you have spoken about my royal house. You have said what will happen to it in days to come. LORD God, you have treated me as if I were the most honoured man of all. 18 ‘What more can I say to you for honouring me? You know all about me. 19 LORD, you have done a wonderful thing. You have given me many great promises. All of them are for my good. They are exactly what you wanted to give me. 20 ‘LORD, there isn’t anyone like you. There isn’t any God but you. We have heard about it with our own ears. 21 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 to make room for your people. You saved us when you set us free from Egypt. 22 You made Israel your very own people for ever. LORD, you have become our God. 23 ‘And now, LORD, let the promise you have made to me and my royal house stand for ever. Do exactly as you promised. 24 When your promise comes true, your name will be honoured for ever. People will say, “The LORD rules over all. He is the God over Israel. He is Israel’s God!” My royal house will be made secure in your sight. 25 ‘My God, you have shown me that you will build me a royal house. So I can pray to you boldly. 26 You, LORD, are God! You have promised many good things to me. 27 You have been pleased to bless my royal house. Now it will continue for ever in your sight. LORD, you have blessed it. And it will be blessed for ever.’

English Standard Version

The Lord’s Covenant with David

1 Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” (2Sa 7:1) 2 And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” 3 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. (1Ch 28:3) 5 For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. (2Sa 7:6) 6 In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, 10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. (2Sa 7:11) 11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, (1Sa 15:23; 1Sa 15:28; Heb 1:5) 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’” 15 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 17 And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations,^[1] O Lord God! 18 And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. 19 For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. (2Sa 7:21) 20 There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel, the one^[2] nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 And you made your people Israel to be your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. 23 And now, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken, 24 and your name will be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. 26 And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O Lord, who have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”