2 Samuel 7:2-16

New International Version

²he said to Nathan^(A) the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house^(B) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”^(C)

³Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind,^(D) go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

⁴But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

⁵“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you^(E) the one to build me a house to dwell in?^(F) ⁶I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.^(G) I have been moving from place to place with a tent^(H) as my dwelling.^(I) ⁷Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,^(J) did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd^(K) my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house^(L) of cedar?^(M)”’

⁸“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,^(N) and appointed you ruler^(O) over my people Israel.^(P) ⁹I have been with you wherever you have gone,^(Q) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.^(R) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.^(S) ¹⁰And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant^(T) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.^(U) Wicked^(V) people will not oppress them anymore,^(W) as they did at the beginning ¹¹and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders^[a]^(X) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.^(Y)

“‘The Lord declares^(Z) to you that the Lord himself will establish^(AA) a house^(AB) for you: ¹²When your days are over and you rest^(AC) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,^(AD) and I will establish his kingdom.^(AE) ¹³He is the one who will build a house^(AF) for my Name,^(AG) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.^(AH) ¹⁴I will be his father, and he will be my son.^(AI) When he does wrong, I will punish him^(AJ) with a rod^(AK) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. ¹⁵But my love will never be taken away from him,^(AL) as I took it away from Saul,^(AM) whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me^[b]; your throne^(AN) will be established^(AO) forever.^(AP)’”