Second Book of Samuel 7

¹ Once David had settled into his house and Yahweh had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him,

² the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent’.

³ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for Yahweh is with you’.

⁴ But that very night the word of Yahweh came to Nathan:

⁵ ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus Yahweh speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in?

⁶ I have never stayed in a house from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today, but have always led a wanderer’s life in a tent.

⁷ In all my journeying with the whole people of Israel, did I say to any one of the judges of Israel, whom I had appointed as shepherds of Israel my people: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”

⁸ This is what you must say to my servant David, “Yahweh Sabaoth says this: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel;

⁹ I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth.

¹⁰ I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did,

¹¹ in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. Yahweh will make you great; Yahweh will make you a House.

¹² And when your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure.

¹³ (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.)

¹⁴ I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives.

¹⁵ Yet I will is not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor.

¹⁶ Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”‘

¹⁷ Nathan related all these words to David and this whole revelation.

¹⁸ King David then went in and, seated before Yahweh, said: ‘Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my House, that you have led me as far as this?

¹⁹ Yet in your sight, Lord Yahweh, this is still not far enough, and you make your promises extend to the House of your servant for a far-distant future…

²⁰ What more can David say to you, when you yourself have singled out your servant, Lord Yahweh?

²¹ For your servant’s sake, this dog of yours, you have done so great a thing by revealing this to your servant.

²² In this is your greatness, Lord Yahweh; there is none like you, no God but you alone, as our own ears have heard.

²³ Is there another people on the earth like your people Israel, with a God setting out to redeem them and make them his people, make them renowned, work great and terrible things on their behalf, drive nations out and gods before his people?

²⁴ You have constituted your people Israel to be your own people for ever; and you, Yahweh, have become their God.

²⁵ Now, Lord Yahweh, always keep the promise you have made your servant and his House, and do as you have said.

²⁶ Your name will be exalted for ever and men will say, “Yahweh Sabaoth is God over Israel.” The House of your servant David will be made secure in your presence,

²⁷ since you yourself, Yahweh Sabaoth, God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, “I will build you a House”; hence your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to you.

²⁸ Yes, Lord Yahweh, you are God indeed, your words are true and you have made this fair promise to your servant.

²⁹ Be pleased, then, to bless the House of your servant, that it may continue for ever in your presence; for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken; and with your blessing the House of your servant will be for ever blessed.’