1It happened, when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains." 3Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you."

4It happened the same night, that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5"Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD, "Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in? 6For I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7In all places in which I have walked throughout Israel, did I say a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'"'

8Now therefore you shall tell my servant David this, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. 10I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, 11and from the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD tells you that he will build you a house. 12And it will come about when your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, that I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He will build a house for my name, and I will establish his throne forever. 14I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with a human rod, and with the stripes from human beings; 15but my loving kindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. 16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me, and your throne shall be established forever."'" 17According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

18Then king David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19This was a small thing in your eyes, Lord GOD, and you have spoken of your servant?s house for a great while to come, and you have let me look upon the generation of humankind to come, Lord GOD. 20And what more can David add to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant, LORD. 21For your servant's sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22Therefore you are great, Lord GOD. For there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem to be a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to do great and awesome deeds by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever; and you, LORD, became their God. 25Now, Lord GOD, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken. 26Let your name be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David shall be established before you.' 27For you have revealed to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you. 28"Now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord GOD, have spoken it. Let the house of your servant be blessed forever with your blessing."