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God’s Promise to David(A)

17 When David ·moved [had settled] into his ·palace [L house], he said to Nathan the prophet, “·Look [T Behold], I am living in a ·palace [L house] made of cedar, but the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord ·sits in [is under] a tent.”

Nathan said to David, “Do ·what you want to do [whatever you have in mind], because God is with you.”

But that night God spoke his word to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell David my servant, ‘·This is what the Lord says [T Thus says the Lord]: You are not the person to build a house for me to live in. From the time I brought Israel ·out of [L up from] Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have moved from one tent site to another and ·from one place to another [or lived in a Tabernacle]. As I have ·moved [walked] with the Israelites to different places, ·I have never [L have I ever…?] said to the ·leaders [L judges of Israel], whom I commanded to ·take care of [shepherd] my people, “Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?” ’

“Now, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says: I took you from the pasture and from ·tending [following] the sheep and made you ·king [ruler; leader] of my people Israel. I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I have ·defeated [destroyed; L cut off] your enemies for you. I will make you ·as famous as any of [L a name like the name of] the great people on the earth. I will ·choose [provide; appoint] a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them so they can live in their own homes. They will not be ·bothered [disturbed; moved] anymore. ·Wicked [Evil] people will no longer ·hurt [oppress] them as they have in the past 10 ·when I chose [beginning when I appointed] judges for my people Israel. I will ·defeat [subdue] all your enemies.

“‘I tell you that the Lord will ·make your descendants kings of Israel after [L build a house for] you. 11 When ·you die [your days are over/T fulfilled] and join your ·ancestors [fathers], I will ·make [L raise up] one of your descendants—one of your sons [C Solomon]—the new king, and I will ·set up [establish; secure] his kingdom. 12 He will build a house [C the Temple] for me, and I will ·let his kingdom rule always [establish/secure his throne forever]. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son [2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7]. I took away my ·love [steadfast love; lovingkindness] from Saul, who ruled before you, but I will never ·stop loving your son [take it away from him]. 14 I will ·put him in charge of [confirm him in] my house and kingdom forever. His ·family [L throne] will ·rule [be established/secure] forever.’”

15 Nathan told David ·everything God had said in this vision [all the words revealed to him].

David Prays to God

16 Then King David went in and sat ·in front of [before] the Lord. David said, “Lord God, who am I? What is my ·family [L house] that you have brought me ·to this point [this far]? 17 But that was ·not enough for you [L a small thing in your eyes], God. You have ·also made promises about my future family [spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future]. Lord God, you have treated me like a ·very important [great; exalted] person.

18 “What more can ·I [L David] say to you for honoring me, your servant? You know me so well. 19 Lord, you have done this wonderful thing for ·my [L your servant’s] sake ·and because you wanted to [according to your will/heart]. You have done all these great things and made them known.

20 “There is ·no one [T none] like you, Lord. There is no God except you. ·We have heard all this ourselves […as all that we’ve heard with our own ears confirms]! 21 ·There is no nation [L And is there another nation…?] like your people Israel. ·They are the only people on earth that [L What other nation on earth did…?] God chose to be his own. You made ·your name well known [a name for yourself] by the great and ·wonderful [awesome; terrible] things you did for them. You went ahead of them and ·forced other [drove out] nations. You ·freed [redeemed] your people from slavery in Egypt. 22 You made the people of Israel your very own people forever, and, Lord, you ·are [became; have become] their God.

23 Lord, ·keep the promise [L let the word be established/secure] forever that you ·made [spoke] about my ·family [L house] and me, your servant. Do what you have ·said [spoken]. 24 ·Then you will be honored always [May your name be established and honored/exalted/magnified forever], and people will say, ‘The Lord ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the ·family [L house] of your servant David will ·continue [be established/secure] before you.

25 “My God, you have told me that you ·would make my family great [L build for your servant a house]. So I, your servant, ·am brave enough [have found courage] to pray to you. 26 Lord, you are God, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. 27 ·You have chosen [It has pleased you] to bless my ·family [L house]. Let it continue before you always. Lord, you have blessed ·my family [L it], ·so it will [let it] ·always [forever] be blessed.”

God’s Promise to David(A)

17 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.(B)

Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind,(C) do it, for God is with you.”

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

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You(D) are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders[a] whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?(E)”’

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

“‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: 11 When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build(H) a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.(I) 13 I will be his father,(J) and he will be my son.(K) I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne(L) will be established forever.(M)’”

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

David’s Prayer(N)

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

“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.

18 “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, 19 Lord. For the sake(O) of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.(P)

20 “There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you,(Q) as we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem(R) a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your very own forever,(S) and you, Lord, have become their God.

23 “And now, Lord, let the promise(T) you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, 24 so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

25 “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. 26 You, Lord, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight;(U) for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 17:6 Traditionally judges; also in verse 10

17 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains.

Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:

And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house.

11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:

14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

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

16 And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

17 And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord God.

18 What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

19 O Lord, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

20 O Lord, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

22 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, Lord, becamest their God.

23 Therefore now, Lord, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.

24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

25 For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

26 And now, Lord, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

27 Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever.