David’s Prayer

18 Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “(A)Who am I, Lord [a]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, (B)for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And (C)this is the [b]custom of mankind, Lord God. 20 Again what more can David say to You? For (D)You know Your servant, Lord God! 21 (E)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 (F)You are great, Lord God; for (G)there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, (H)according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And (I)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 (J)to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, [c]because of (K)Your people whom (L)You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods? 24 For (M)You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and (N)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 (O)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 [d]given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘(P)I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found [e]courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now then, Lord God, You are God, and (Q)Your words are truth; and You have [f]promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 And now, may [g]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 [h](R)with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:18 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  2. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or law
  3. 2 Samuel 7:23 Or before Your
  4. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit uncovered the ear of
  5. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit his heart
  6. 2 Samuel 7:28 Lit spoken
  7. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit You be resolved and bless
  8. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit from

David’s Prayer of Thanks

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed,

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?[a]

20 “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord. 21 Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant.

22 “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! 23 What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way.[b] 24 You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.

25 “And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. 26 And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.

27 “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ 28 For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”

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Footnotes

  1. 7:19 Or This is your instruction for all humanity, O Sovereign Lord.
  2. 7:23 As in Greek version (see also 1 Chr 17:21); Hebrew reads You made a name for yourself and awesome miracles for your land in the sight of your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, the nations and their gods.