2 Samuel 7:3-17

English Standard Version

³And Nathan said to the king, ^(A)“Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

⁴But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, ⁵“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: ^(B)Would you build me a house to dwell in? ⁶I have not lived in a house ^(C)since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about ^(D)in a tent for my dwelling. ⁷In all places where ^(E)I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with ^(F)any of the judges^[a] of Israel, whom I commanded ^(G)to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ ⁸Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, ^(H)I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince^[b] over my people Israel. ⁹^(I)And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel ^(J)and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place ^(K)and be disturbed no more. ^(L)And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹^(M)from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And ^(N)I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that ^(O)the Lord will make you a house. ¹²^(P)When your days are fulfilled and ^(Q)you lie down with your fathers, ^(R)I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³^(S)He shall build a house for my name, and ^(T)I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴^(U)I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, ^(V)I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, ¹⁵^(W)but my steadfast love will not depart from him, ^(X)as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. ¹⁶^(Y)And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.^[c] ^(Z)Your throne shall be established forever.’” ¹⁷In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.