The Lord’s Covenant with David

1When Davida had settled into his palace, he said to the prophet Nathan, “Look! I am living in a cedar house while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under tent curtains.”b

2So Nathan told David, “Do all that is on your mind, for God is with you.”

3But that nighta the word of God came to Nathan: 4“Go to David my servant and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.a 5From the time I brought Israel out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have moved from one tent site to another, and from one tabernacle location to another.a a 6In all my journeys throughout Israel, have I ever spoken a word to even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar? ’a

7“So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.a 8I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest on the earth. 9I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them,a so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done 10ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.

“ ‘Furthermore, I declare to you that the Lord himself will build a house for you. 11When your time comes to be with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who is one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12He is the one who will build a house for me,a and I will establish his throne forever. 13I will be his father, and he will be my son.a I will not remove my faithful love from him as I removed it from the one who was before you.b 14I will appoint him over my house and my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.’ ”a

15Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

16Thena King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said,

Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far? 17This was a little thing to you,A God, for you have spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. You regard me as a man of distinction,B Lord God. 18What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant. 19Lord, you have done this whole great thing, making known all these great promises for the sake of your servant and according to your will.a 20Lord, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as all we have heard confirms. 21And who is like your people Israel? God, you came to one nation on earth to redeem a people for yourself, to make a name for yourself through great and awesome works by driving out nations before your people you redeemed from Egypt.a 22You made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.a

23Now, Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and his house be confirmed forever, and do as you have promised. 24Let your name be confirmed and magnified forever in the saying, “The Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, is God over Israel.” May the house of your servant David be established before you. 25Since you, my God, have revealed toa a your servant that you will build him a house, your servant has found courage to pray in your presence. 26Lord, you indeed are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27So now, you have been pleased to bless your servant’s house that it may continue before you forever. For you, Lord, have blessed it, and it is blessed forever.