The Lord's promise
After the king had settled into his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, Here I am living in a cedar palace while the ark of God sits inside a tent. Nathan replied, Go and do whatever is on your heart, because the Lord is with you. But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David, This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I moved with all Israel, did I ever say to any of Israel's rulers, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, Why haven't you built me a cedar house? Now tell my servant David, This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the paddock, from following the sheep, and made you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went. I cut off all your enemies before you, and I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest people on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them there so they can live in their own home and no longer be disturbed. Violent people will not oppress them as they did before, from the time I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. And now the Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will build you a house. When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your descendant after you, one who comes from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and the blows people give. But my steadfast love will never be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure before me forever; your throne will be established forever. Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.
And when the king sat in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the ones against him round about, the king said to Nathan the prophet: See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God lives in curtains. And Nathan said to the king: Go, do everything that's in your heart. Because the Lord is with you. And that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: This is what the Lord says. Will you build me a house for me to live in? Because I haven't lived in a house since the time I brought the people of Israel up out of Egypt right to this day, but have walked about in a tent and in a dwelling. Wherever I've walked with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word to any of the tribes of Israel that I ordered to feed my people Israel: Why haven't you built me a house of cedar? So now say this to my servant David: This is what the Lord Almighty says. I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel. And I was with you wherever you walked, and have cut off all the ones against you from in front of you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men on the earth. What's more, I'll set a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so they can live in a place of their own and not be shifted any more. And the children of wickedness won't trouble them any more, the way they did before, and since the time I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. And I've made you rest from all the ones against you. The Lord tells you too that he'll make you a house. And when your days are up and you sleep with your fathers, I'll set up your offspring after you, who'll come out of your body. And I'll make his kingdom firm. He'll build a house for my name, and I'll make the throne of his kingdom firm forever. I'll be his father, and he'll be my son. If he does wrong, I'll set him straight with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But my mercy won't go from him, the way I took it from Saul, who I put away in front of you. And your house and your kingdom will be made firm forever in front of you. Your throne will be set up forever. According to all these words and according to all this vision, that's what Nathan spoke to David.
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; 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. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee. And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 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. 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? 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: 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. 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, 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. 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. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 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: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
After the king had settled into his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies around him,
And when the king sat in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the ones against him round about,
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;
he said to Nathan the prophet, Here I am living in a cedar palace while the ark of God sits inside a tent.
the king said to Nathan the prophet: See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God lives in curtains.
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.
Nathan replied, Go and do whatever is on your heart, because the Lord is with you.
And Nathan said to the king: Go, do everything that's in your heart. Because the Lord is with you.
And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan:
And that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:
And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
Go and tell my servant David, This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?
Go and tell my servant David: This is what the Lord says. Will you build me a house for me to live in?
Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
I have not lived in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
Because I haven't lived in a house since the time I brought the people of Israel up out of Egypt right to this day, but have walked about in a tent and in a dwelling.
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.
Wherever I moved with all Israel, did I ever say to any of Israel's rulers, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, Why haven't you built me a cedar house?
Wherever I've walked with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word to any of the tribes of Israel that I ordered to feed my people Israel: Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?
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?
Now tell my servant David, This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the paddock, from following the sheep, and made you ruler over my people Israel.
So now say this to my servant David: This is what the Lord Almighty says. I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel.
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:
I have been with you wherever you went. I cut off all your enemies before you, and I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest people on earth.
And I was with you wherever you walked, and have cut off all the ones against you from in front of you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men on the earth.
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.
I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them there so they can live in their own home and no longer be disturbed. Violent people will not oppress them as they did before,
What's more, I'll set a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so they can live in a place of their own and not be shifted any more. And the children of wickedness won't trouble them any more, the way they did before,
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,
from the time I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. And now the Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will build you a house.
and since the time I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. And I've made you rest from all the ones against you. The Lord tells you too that he'll make you a house.
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.
When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your descendant after you, one who comes from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
And when your days are up and you sleep with your fathers, I'll set up your offspring after you, who'll come out of your body. And I'll make his kingdom firm.
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.
He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
He'll build a house for my name, and I'll make the throne of his kingdom firm forever.
He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and the blows people give.
I'll be his father, and he'll be my son. If he does wrong, I'll set him straight with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
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:
But my steadfast love will never be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed before you.
But my mercy won't go from him, the way I took it from Saul, who I put away in front of you.
But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
Your house and your kingdom will endure before me forever; your throne will be established forever.
And your house and your kingdom will be made firm forever in front of you. Your throne will be set up forever.
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.
According to all these words and according to all this vision, that's what Nathan spoke to David.
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
David's prayer
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord. He said, Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you've brought me this far? And as if that weren't enough in your eyes, Lord God, you've also spoken about your servant's house far into the future. Is this your usual way of dealing with people, Lord God? What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord God. For the sake of your word and according to your own heart, you've done all these great things and made them known to your servant. How great you are, Lord God. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, just as we have always heard. And what other nation on earth is like your people Israel, whom God went out to redeem as his own people, making a name for himself and doing great and awe-inspiring things as he drove out nations and their gods before the people you redeemed from Egypt? You established your people Israel as your own forever, and you, Lord, became their God. And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you've made about your servant and his house. Do exactly as you've said. Then your name will be great forever, and people will say, The Lord Almighty is God over Israel. And the house of your servant David will be established before you. Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you've revealed this to your servant: I will build you a house. That's why your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you. Lord God, you are God. Your words are true, and you've promised this good thing to your servant. So now please bless the house of your servant, so it may continue forever before you. You have spoken, Lord God, and with your blessing your servant's house will be blessed forever.
Then King David went in and sat in front of the Lord and said: Who am I, Lord God? And what's my house, that you've brought me this far? And this was still a small thing in your sight, Lord God. But you've spoken about your servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the way of man, Lord God? And what can David say more to you? Because you know your servant, Lord God. For your word's sake and according to your own heart you've done all these great things, to make your servant know them. So you're great, Lord God. Because there's nobody like you, and there's no God besides you, according to everything we've heard with our ears. And what one nation on the earth is like your people, like Israel, who God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make himself a name, and to do great and terrifying things for you, for your land, in front of your people that you bought back to you from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? Because you've made your people Israel firm to be a people to you forever. And you, Lord, have become their God. And now, Lord God, keep forever the word you've spoken about your servant and about his house, and do the way you've said. And let your name be made great forever: The Lord Almighty is the God over Israel. And let the house of your servant David be made firm in front of you. Because you, Lord Almighty, God of Israel, have shown your servant: I'll build you a house. That's why your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to you. And now, Lord God, you're that God, and your words are true, and you've promised this goodness to your servant. So let it please you now to bless the house of your servant, so it can go on forever in front of you. Because you've spoken it, Lord God. And with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.
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? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. 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. 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? For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. 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. 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. 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. And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: 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.
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord. He said, Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you've brought me this far?
Then King David went in and sat in front of the Lord and said: Who am I, Lord God? And what's my house, that you've brought me this far?
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?
And as if that weren't enough in your eyes, Lord God, you've also spoken about your servant's house far into the future. Is this your usual way of dealing with people, Lord God?
And this was still a small thing in your sight, Lord God. But you've spoken about your servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the way of man, Lord God?
And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord God.
And what can David say more to you? Because you know your servant, Lord God.
And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
For the sake of your word and according to your own heart, you've done all these great things and made them known to your servant.
For your word's sake and according to your own heart you've done all these great things, to make your servant know them.
For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
How great you are, Lord God. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, just as we have always heard.
So you're great, Lord God. Because there's nobody like you, and there's no God besides you, according to everything we've heard with our ears.
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.
And what other nation on earth is like your people Israel, whom God went out to redeem as his own people, making a name for himself and doing great and awe-inspiring things as he drove out nations and their gods before the people you redeemed from Egypt?
And what one nation on the earth is like your people, like Israel, who God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make himself a name, and to do great and terrifying things for you, for your land, in front of your people that you bought back to you from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
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?
You established your people Israel as your own forever, and you, Lord, became their God.
Because you've made your people Israel firm to be a people to you forever. And you, Lord, have become their God.
For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you've made about your servant and his house. Do exactly as you've said.
And now, Lord God, keep forever the word you've spoken about your servant and about his house, and do the way you've said.
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.
Then your name will be great forever, and people will say, The Lord Almighty is God over Israel. And the house of your servant David will be established before you.
And let your name be made great forever: The Lord Almighty is the God over Israel. And let the house of your servant David be made firm in front of you.
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.
Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you've revealed this to your servant: I will build you a house. That's why your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you.
Because you, Lord Almighty, God of Israel, have shown your servant: I'll build you a house. That's why your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to you.
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.
Lord God, you are God. Your words are true, and you've promised this good thing to your servant.
And now, Lord God, you're that God, and your words are true, and you've promised this goodness to your servant.
And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
So now please bless the house of your servant, so it may continue forever before you. You have spoken, Lord God, and with your blessing your servant's house will be blessed forever.
So let it please you now to bless the house of your servant, so it can go on forever in front of you. Because you've spoken it, Lord God. And with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.
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.