2 Samuel 7:18-29

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

David’s Prayer

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?^{(A) 19} And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God; you have spoken also of your servant’s house into the distant future. May this be instruction for the people,^[a] O Lord God! ²⁰ And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God!^{(B) 21} Because of your promise and according to your own heart, you have wrought all this greatness so that your servant may know it. ²² Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.^{(C) 23} Who is like your people, like Israel? Is there another^[b] nation on earth whose God went to redeem it as a people and to make a name for himself, doing^[c] great and awesome things, driving out^[d] nations and their gods before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt?^{(D) 24} And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.^{(E) 25} And now, O Lord God, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it forever; do as you have promised. ²⁶ Thus your name will be magnified forever in the saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you.^{(F) 27} For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.^{(G) 28} And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant;^{(H) 29} now, therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servant so that it may continue forever before you, for you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”^(I)