2 Samuel 7:1-13 ▼

1 The king settled into his palace, for the LORD gave him relief from all his enemies on all sides.

2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, |Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent.|

3 Nathan replied to the king, |You should go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.|

4 That night the LORD told Nathan,

5 Go, tell my servant David: 'This is what the LORD says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in?

6 I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent.

7 Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, |Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?|'

8 So now, say this to my servant David: 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you leader of my people Israel.

9 I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.

10 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed any more. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning

11 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that he himself will build a dynastic house for you.

12 When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent.