David Plans to Build a Temple

(A)Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, that the king said to (B)Nathan the prophet, “See now, I live in (C)a house of cedar, but the ark of God (D)remains within the tent.” Nathan said to the king, “(E)Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”

But in the same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, “Go and say to My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “(F)Should you build Me a house for My dwelling? For (G)I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about (H)in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place. (I)Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, (J)whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

God’s Covenant with David

Now then, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “(K)I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, (L)to be leader over My people Israel. And (M)I have been with you wherever you have gone, and (N)have eliminated all your enemies from you; I will also make a great name for you, like the names of the great men who [a]are on the earth. 10 And I will establish a place for My people Israel, and (O)will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, (P)nor will [b]malicious people oppress them anymore as previously, 11 even (Q)from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and (R)I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that (S)the Lord will make a house for you. 12 (T)When your days are finished and you [c](U)lie down with your fathers, (V)I will raise up your [d]descendant after you, who will come from [e]you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 (W)He shall build a house for My name, and (X)I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 (Y)I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; (Z)when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind, 15 but My favor shall not depart from him, (AA)as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you. 16 (AB)Your house and your kingdom shall endure before [f]Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all of this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

18 Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “(AC)Who am I, Lord [g]God, and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God, (AD)for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And (AE)this is the [h]custom of mankind, Lord God. 20 Again what more can David say to You? For (AF)You know Your servant, Lord God! 21 (AG)For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason (AH)You are great, Lord God; for (AI)there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, (AJ)according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And (AK)what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and (AL)to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, [i]because of (AM)Your people whom (AN)You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods? 24 For (AO)You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and (AP)You, Lord, have become their God. 25 Now then, Lord God, the word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do just as You have spoken, 26 (AQ)so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of armies is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have [j]given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘(AR)I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found [k]courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now then, Lord God, You are God, and (AS)Your words are truth; and You have [l]promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 And now, may [m]it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord God, have spoken; and [n](AT)with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:9 Or were
  2. 2 Samuel 7:10 Lit sons of malice
  3. 2 Samuel 7:12 I.e., die
  4. 2 Samuel 7:12 Lit seed
  5. 2 Samuel 7:12 Lit your bowels
  6. 2 Samuel 7:16 As in LXX and some ancient mss; MT you
  7. 2 Samuel 7:18 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  8. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or law
  9. 2 Samuel 7:23 Or before Your
  10. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit uncovered the ear of
  11. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit his heart
  12. 2 Samuel 7:28 Lit spoken
  13. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit You be resolved and bless
  14. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit from

God’s Promise to David(A)

After the king was settled in his palace(B) and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies(C) around him,(D) he said to Nathan(E) the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house(F) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”(G)

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

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

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

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

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

17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David’s Prayer(AU)

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I,(AV) Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree,(AW) Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human![c]

20 “What more can David say(AX) to you? For you know(AY) your servant,(AZ) Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great(BA) you are,(BB) Sovereign Lord! There is no one like(BC) you, and there is no God(BD) but you, as we have heard with our own ears.(BE) 23 And who is like your people Israel(BF)—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name(BG) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders(BH) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed(BI) from Egypt?[d] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own(BJ) forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.(BK)

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise(BL) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name(BM) will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established(BN) in your sight.

27 Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy,(BO) and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing(BP) the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:11 Traditionally judges
  2. 2 Samuel 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts you
  3. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or for the human race
  4. 2 Samuel 7:23 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 17:21; Hebrew wonders for your land and before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.