The First Book of the Chronicles

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- Chapter 17 -

(2 Samuel 7:1–17)

Now when David was living in his house, he said to the prophet Nathan: “Behold, I live in a house of cedar. But the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under tent skins.”

And Nathan said to David: “Do all that is in your heart. For God is with you.”

And yet, that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:

“Go, and speak to my servant David: Thus says the Lord: You shall not build a house for me as a dwelling place.

For I have not stayed in a house from the time when I led out Israel, even to this day. Instead, I have been continually changing places, in a tabernacle and tent,

dwelling with all of Israel. When did I ever speak to any one at all, among the judges of Israel whom I placed in charge so that they might pasture my people, saying: ‘Why have you not built a house of cedar for me?’

And so, now you shall say this to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you when you were following the flock in the pastures, so that you would be the leader of my people Israel.

And I have been with you wherever you have gone. And I have slain all your enemies before you, and I have made a name for you like one of the great ones who are celebrated upon the earth.

And I have given a place to my people Israel. They shall be planted, and they shall live in it, and they shall no longer be moved. Neither shall the sons of iniquity wear them away, as in the beginning,

from the days when I gave judges to my people Israel, and I humbled all your enemies. Therefore, I announce to you that the Lord will build a house for you.

And when you will have completed your days, so that you go to your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall be from your sons. And I will establish his kingdom.

He shall build a house for me, and I will make firm his throne, even unto eternity.

I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And I will not take away my mercy from him, as I took it away from the one who was before you.

And I will station him in my house and in my kingdom, even forever. And his throne will be very firm, in perpetuity.”

According to all these words, and according to this entire vision, so did Nathan speak to David.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

(2 Samuel 7:18–29)

And when king David had departed, and had sat down before the Lord, he said: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you would grant such things to me?

But even this has seemed little in your sight, and therefore you have also spoken about the house of your servant even for the future. And you have made me a spectacle above all men, O Lord God.

What more can David add, since you have so glorified your servant, and have known him?

O Lord, because of your servant, in accord with your own heart, you have brought about all this magnificence, and you have willed all these great things to be known.

O Lord, there is no one like you. And there is no other God apart from you, out of all whom we have heard about with our ears.

For what other single nation upon earth is like your people Israel, to whom God reached out, so that he might free them, and might make a people for himself, and by his greatness and terribleness cast out the nations before the face of those whom he had freed from Egypt?

And you have set your people Israel to be your people, even unto eternity. And you, O Lord, have become their God.

Now therefore, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken to your servant, and over his house, be confirmed in perpetuity, and do just as you have spoken.

And may your name remain and be magnified even for all time. And let it be said: ‘The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel. And the house of his servant David remains forever before him.’

For you, O Lord my God, have revealed to the ear of your servant that you will build a house for him. And therefore your servant has found faith so that he might pray before you.

Now then, O Lord, you are God. And you have spoken to your servant such great benefits.

And you have begun to bless the house of your servant, so that it may be always before you. For since it is you who is blessing, O Lord, it shall be blessed forever.”

(2 Samuel 7:1–17)

When David was living in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I live in a cedar house, but the ark of the LORD’s covenant is in a tent.”

Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you.”

That same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

“Go and tell David my servant, ‘The LORD says, “You shall not build me a house to dwell in;

for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tent to another.

In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’

“Now therefore, you shall tell my servant David, ‘The LORD of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel.

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not waste them any more, as at the first,

and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that the LORD will build you a house.

It will happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your offspring after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not take my loving kindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you;

but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever. His throne will be established forever.”’”

According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

(2 Samuel 7:18–29)

Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?

This was a small thing in your eyes, O God, but you have spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the standard of a man of high degree, LORD God.

What can David say yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant.

LORD, for your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

LORD, there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

What one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people whom you redeemed out of Egypt?

For you made your people Israel your own people forever; and you, LORD, became their God.

Now, LORD, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken.

Let your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. The house of David your servant is established before you.’

For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you.

Now, LORD, you are God, and have promised this good thing to your servant.

Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, LORD, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”