God’s Covenant with David
(1 Chronicles 17:1–15)

1  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass), כִּי־ (when) יָשַׁ֥ב (was dwelling) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) בְּבֵית֑וֹ (in his house) וַיהוָ֛ה (and YHWH) הֵנִֽיחַ־ (had given rest) ל֥וֹ (to him) מִסָּבִ֖יב (all around) מִכָּל־ (from all) אֹיְבָֽיו׃ (his enemies), 2  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (that said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֶל־ (to) נָתָ֣ן (Nathan) הַנָּבִ֔יא (the prophet), רְאֵ֣ה (See) נָ֔א (now), אָנֹכִ֥י (I) יוֹשֵׁ֖ב (dwell) בְּבֵ֣ית (in a house) אֲרָזִ֑ים (of cedar), וַֽאֲרוֹן֙ (and the ark) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) יֹשֵׁ֖ב (dwells) בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the midst) הַיְרִיעָֽה׃ (of the curtain).

3  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) נָתָן֙ (Nathan) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), כֹּ֛ל (All) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ (in your heart), לֵ֣ךְ (go), עֲשֵׂ֑ה (do), כִּ֥י (for) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH is) עִמָּֽךְ׃ס (with you).

4  וַיְהִ֖י (And it came to pass) בַּלַּ֣יְלָה (in the night) הַה֑וּא (that) וַֽיְהִי֙ (and came) דְּבַר־ (that the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) נָתָ֖ן (Nathan), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 5  לֵ֤ךְ (Go) וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ (and say) אֶל־ (unto) עַבְדִּ֣י (My servant) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔ד (David), כֹּ֖ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH): הַאַתָּ֛ה (Would you) תִּבְנֶה־ (build) לִּ֥י (for Me) בַ֖יִת (a house) לְשִׁבְתִּֽי׃ (to dwell in)? 6  כִּ֣י (For) לֹ֤א (not) יָשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙ (I have dwelt) בְּבַ֔יִת (in a house) לְ֠מִיּוֹם (since the time) הַעֲלֹתִ֞י (that I brought up) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֤י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם (from Egypt) וְעַ֖ד (and to) הַיּ֣וֹם (day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), וָאֶֽהְיֶה֙ (and I have been) מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ (moving about) בְּאֹ֖הֶל (in a tent) וּבְמִשְׁכָּֽן׃ (and in a tabernacle). 7  בְּכֹ֥ל (In all) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (that) הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי֮ (I have moved about) בְּכָל־ (with all) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (of Israel), הֲדָבָ֣ר (a word) דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי (have I spoken) אֶת־ (to) אַחַד֙ (one) שִׁבְטֵ֣י (of the rods) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) צִוִּ֗יתִי (I commanded) לִרְע֛וֹת (to shepherd) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֥י (My people) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), לָ֛מָּה (Why) לֹֽא־ (not) בְנִיתֶ֥ם (have you⁺ built) לִ֖י (for Me) בֵּ֥ית (a house) אֲרָזִֽים׃ (of cedar)?

8  וְ֠עַתָּה (And now) כֹּֽה־ (thus) תֹאמַ֞ר (shall you say) לְעַבְדִּ֣י (to My servant) לְדָוִ֗ד (David), כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) צְבָא֔וֹת (of Hosts): אֲנִ֤י (I) לְקַחְתִּ֙יךָ֙ (took you) מִן־ (from) הַנָּוֶ֔ה (the sheepfold), מֵאַחַ֖ר (from following) הַצֹּ֑אן (the sheep), לִֽהְי֣וֹת (to be) נָגִ֔יד (ruler) עַל־ (over) עַמִּ֖י (My people), עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel). 9  וָאֶהְיֶ֣ה (And I have been) עִמְּךָ֗ (with you) בְּכֹל֙ (in every place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הָלַ֔כְתָּ (you have gone), וָאַכְרִ֥תָה (and I have cut off) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֹיְבֶ֖יךָ (your enemies) מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ (from before you), וְעָשִׂ֤תִֽי (and I will make) לְךָ֙ (for you) שֵׁ֣ם (a name) גָּד֔וֹל (great), כְּשֵׁ֥ם (like the name) הַגְּדֹלִ֖ים (of the great men) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who are) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (on the earth).

10  וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י (And I will appoint) מָ֠קוֹם (a place) לְעַמִּ֨י (for My people) לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (Israel), וּנְטַעְתִּיו֙ (and I will plant him), וְשָׁכַ֣ן (that he may dwell in) תַּחְתָּ֔יו (in his place) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִרְגַּ֖ז (be disturbed) ע֑וֹד (anymore); וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יֹסִ֤יפוּ (add) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) עַוְלָה֙ (of wickedness) לְעַנּוֹת֔וֹ (to afflict him) כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) בָּרִאשׁוֹנָֽה׃ (at first). 11  וּלְמִן־ (And since) הַיּ֗וֹם (the time) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) צִוִּ֤יתִי (I commanded) שֹֽׁפְטִים֙ (judges) עַל־ (over) עַמִּ֣י (My people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וַהֲנִיחֹ֥תִי (and have brought rest) לְךָ֖ (for you) מִכָּל־ (from all) אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ (your enemies).

וְהִגִּ֤יד (And declares) לְךָ֙ (to you) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) כִּי־ (that) בַ֖יִת (a house) יַעֲשֶׂה־ (will make) לְּךָ֥ (for you) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 12  כִּ֣י׀ (When) יִמְלְא֣וּ (are fulfilled) יָמֶ֗יךָ (your days) וְשָֽׁכַבְתָּ֙ (and you rest) אֶת־ (with) אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ (your fathers), וַהֲקִימֹתִ֤י (and I will set up) אֶֽת־ (-) זַרְעֲךָ֙ (your seed) אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ (after you) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) יֵצֵ֖א (will come) מִמֵּעֶ֑יךָ (from your bowels), וַהֲכִינֹתִ֖י (and I will establish) אֶת־ (-) מַמְלַכְתּֽוֹ׃ (his kingdom). 13  ה֥וּא (He) יִבְנֶה־ (will build) בַּ֖יִת (a house) לִשְׁמִ֑י (for My name), וְכֹנַנְתִּ֛י (and I will establish) אֶת־ (-) כִּסֵּ֥א (the throne) מַמְלַכְתּ֖וֹ (of his kingdom) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever). 14  אֲנִי֙ (I) אֶהְיֶה־ (will be) לּ֣וֹ (his) לְאָ֔ב (Father), וְה֖וּא (and he) יִהְיֶה־ (will be) לִּ֣י (My) לְבֵ֑ן (son). אֲשֶׁר֙ (If) בְּהַ֣עֲוֺת֔וֹ (he commits iniquity), וְהֹֽכַחְתִּיו֙ (and I will churry him) בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט (with the rod) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (of men) וּבְנִגְעֵ֖י (and with the blows) בְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) אָדָֽם׃ (of man).

15  וְחַסְדִּ֖י (And My loving devotion) לֹא־ (not) יָס֣וּר (shall depart) מִמֶּ֑נּוּ (from him) כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (as) הֲסִרֹ֙תִי֙ (I took it) מֵעִ֣ם (from) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הֲסִרֹ֖תִי (I turned aside) מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (from before you). 16  וְנֶאְמַ֨ן (And will endure) בֵּיתְךָ֧ (your house) וּמַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛ (and your kingdom) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָ֖ם (forever) לְפָנֶ֑יךָ (before your face). כִּֽסְאֲךָ֔ (Your throne) יִהְיֶ֥ה (will be) נָכ֖וֹן (established) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever).

17  כְּכֹל֙ (According to all) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the words) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) וּכְכֹ֖ל (and according to all) הַחִזָּי֣וֹן (the vision) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), כֵּ֛ן (so) דִּבֶּ֥ר (spoke) נָתָ֖ן (Nathan) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִֽד׃ס (David).

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
(1 Chronicles 17:16–27)

18  וַיָּבֹא֙ (And went in) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) דָּוִ֔ד (David) וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (and sat) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), מִ֣י (Who) אָנֹכִ֞י (am I), אֲדֹנָ֤י (O Lord) יְהוִה֙ (YHWH), וּמִ֣י (and who is) בֵיתִ֔י (my house), כִּ֥י (that) הֲבִיאֹתַ֖נִי (You have brought me) עַד־ (as far as) הֲלֹֽם׃ (here)? 19  וַתִּקְטַן֩ (And was a small thing) ע֨וֹד (yet) זֹ֤את (this) בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ (in Your eyes), אֲדֹנָ֣י (O Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH), וַתְּדַבֵּ֛ר (and You have spoken) גַּ֥ם (also) אֶל־ (of) בֵּֽית־ (house) עַבְדְּךָ֖ (of Your servant) לְמֵֽרָח֑וֹק (afar off). וְזֹ֛את (And is this) תּוֹרַ֥ת (the manner) הָאָדָ֖ם (of the man), אֲדֹנָ֥י (O Lord) יְהוִֽה׃ (YHWH)? 20  וּמַה־ (And what) יּוֹסִ֥יף (can) דָּוִ֛ד (David) ע֖וֹד (more) לְדַבֵּ֣ר (say) אֵלֶ֑יךָ (to You)? וְאַתָּ֛ה (And for You) יָדַ֥עְתָּ (know) אֶֽת־ (-) עַבְדְּךָ֖ (Your servant), אֲדֹנָ֥י (O Lord) יְהוִֽה׃ (YHWH), 21  בַּעֲב֤וּר (for the sake) דְּבָֽרְךָ֙ (of Your word) וּֽכְלִבְּךָ֔ (and according to Your own heart) עָשִׂ֕יתָ (You have done) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַגְּדוּלָּ֖ה (greatness) הַזֹּ֑את (this), לְהוֹדִ֖יעַ (to make it known) אֶת־ (-) עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ (to Your servant).

22  עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֥ן (thus) גָּדַ֖לְתָּ (You are great), אֲדֹנָ֣י (O Lord) יְהוִ֑ה (YHWH), כִּֽי־ (for) אֵ֣ין (there is none) כָּמ֗וֹךָ (like You) וְאֵ֤ין (and no) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) זֽוּלָתֶ֔ךָ (besides You), בְּכֹ֥ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ (we have heard) בְּאָזְנֵֽינוּ׃ (with our ears). 23  וּמִ֤י (And who is) כְעַמְּךָ֙ (like Your people), כְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (like Israel), גּ֥וֹי (the nation) אֶחָ֖ד (one) בָּאָ֑רֶץ (on the earth) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) הָלְכֽוּ־ (went) אֱ֠לֹהִים (God) לִפְדּֽוֹת־ (to redeem) ל֨וֹ (His) לְעָ֜ם (people) וְלָשׂ֧וּם (and to make) ל֣וֹ (for Himself) שֵׁ֗ם (a name), וְלַעֲשׂ֨וֹת (and to do) לָכֶ֜ם (for Yourself) הַגְּדוּלָּ֤ה (great) וְנֹֽרָאוֹת֙ (and awesome deeds) לְאַרְצֶ֔ךָ (for Your land) מִפְּנֵ֣י (before) עַמְּךָ֗ (Your people), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (whom) פָּדִ֤יתָ (You redeemed) לְּךָ֙ (for Yourself) מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם (from Egypt) גּוֹיִ֖ם (the nations) וֵאלֹהָֽיו׃ (and their gods)? 24  וַתְּכ֣וֹנֵֽן (For You have established) לְ֠ךָ (for Yourself) אֶת־ (-) עַמְּךָ֨ (Your people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל׀ (Israel) לְךָ֛ (Your) לְעָ֖ם (people) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָ֑ם (forever). וְאַתָּ֣ה (And You), יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH), הָיִ֥יתָ (have become) לָהֶ֖ם (their) לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ס (God).

25  וְעַתָּה֙ (And now), יְהוָ֣ה (O YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), הַדָּבָ֗ר (the word) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) דִּבַּ֤רְתָּ (You have spoken) עַֽל־ (concerning) עַבְדְּךָ֙ (Your servant) וְעַל־ (and concerning) בֵּית֔וֹ (his house), הָקֵ֖ם (establish it) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָ֑ם (forever), וַעֲשֵׂ֖ה (and do) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃ (You have said). 26  וְיִגְדַּ֨ל (And let be magnified) שִׁמְךָ֤ (Your name) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָם֙ (forever), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) צְבָא֔וֹת (of Hosts) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (is the God) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel). וּבֵית֙ (And the house) עַבְדְּךָ֣ (of Your servant) דָוִ֔ד (David) יִהְיֶ֥ה (let be) נָכ֖וֹן (established) לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (before You). 27  כִּֽי־ (For) אַתָּה֩ (You), יְהוָ֨ה (O YHWH) צְבָא֜וֹת (of Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), גָּלִ֜יתָה (have uncovered this) אֶת־ (-) אֹ֤זֶן (to the ear) עַבְדְּךָ֙ (of Your servant), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), בַּ֖יִת (A house) אֶבְנֶה־ (I will build) לָּ֑ךְ (for you). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֗ן (thus) מָצָ֤א (has found it) עַבְדְּךָ֙ (Your servant) אֶת־ (-) לִבּ֔וֹ (in his heart) לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל (to pray) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to You) אֶת־ (-) הַתְּפִלָּ֖ה (the prayer) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this).

28  וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ (And now), אֲדֹנָ֣י (O Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH), אַתָּה־ (You) הוּא֙ (are) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), וּדְבָרֶ֖יךָ (and Your words) יִהְי֣וּ (are) אֱמֶ֑ת (true), וַתְּדַבֵּר֙ (and You have promised) אֶֽל־ (to) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (Your servant). אֶת־ (-) הַטּוֹבָ֖ה (goodness) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this). 29  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) הוֹאֵל֙ (begin) וּבָרֵךְ֙ (and bless) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֣ית (the house) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (of Your servant), לִהְי֥וֹת (that it may continue) לְעוֹלָ֖ם (forever) לְפָנֶ֑יךָ (before You). כִּֽי־ (For) אַתָּ֞ה (You), אֲדֹנָ֤י (O Lord) יְהוִה֙ (YHWH), דִּבַּ֔רְתָּ (have spoken it), וּמִבִּרְכָ֣תְךָ֔ (and with Your blessing) יְבֹרַ֥ךְ (let be blessed) בֵּֽית־ (the house) עַבְדְּךָ֖ (of Your servant) לְעוֹלָֽם׃פ (forever).