2 Samuel 7
Dios Habla Hoy
Dios promete bendecir a David(A)
7 Cuando el rey David estuvo ya instalado en su palacio, y el Señor le había concedido la paz con todos sus enemigos de alrededor, 2 le dijo a Natán, el profeta:
—Como puedes ver, yo habito en un palacio de cedro, mientras que el arca de Dios habita bajo simples cortinas.
3 Y Natán le contestó:
—Pues haz todo lo que te has propuesto, porque cuentas con el apoyo del Señor.
4 Pero aquella misma noche, el Señor se dirigió a Natán y le dijo: 5 «Ve y habla con mi siervo David, y comunícale que yo, el Señor, he dicho: “No serás tú quien me construya un templo para que habite en él. 6 Desde el día en que saqué de Egipto a los israelitas, hasta el presente, nunca he habitado en templos, sino que he andado en simples tiendas de campaña. 7 En todo el tiempo que anduve con ellos, jamás le pedí a ninguno de sus caudillos, a quienes puse para que gobernaran a mi pueblo Israel, que me construyera un templo de madera de cedro.” 8 Por lo tanto, dile a mi siervo David que yo, el Señor todopoderoso, le digo: “Yo te saqué del redil, y te quité de andar tras el rebaño, para que fueras el jefe de mi pueblo Israel; 9 te he acompañado por dondequiera que has ido, he acabado con todos los enemigos que se te enfrentaron, y te he dado gran fama, como la que tienen los hombres importantes de este mundo. 10 Además he preparado un lugar para mi pueblo Israel, y allí los he instalado para que vivan en un sitio propio, donde nadie los moleste ni los malhechores los opriman como al principio, 11 cuando puse caudillos que gobernaran a mi pueblo Israel. Yo haré que te veas libre de todos tus enemigos. Y te hago saber que te daré descendientes, 12 y que cuando tu vida llegue a su fin y mueras, yo estableceré a uno de tus descendientes y lo confirmaré en el reino. 13 Él me construirá un templo, y yo afirmaré su reino para siempre. 14 Yo le seré un padre, y él me será un hijo. Y cuando cometa una falta, yo lo castigaré y lo azotaré como todo padre lo hace con su hijo, 15 pero no le retiraré mi bondad como se la retiré a Saúl, al cual quité para ponerte a ti en su lugar. 16 Tu dinastía y tu reino estarán para siempre seguros bajo mi protección, y también tu trono quedará establecido para siempre.”»
17 Natán le contó todo esto a David, exactamente como lo había visto y oído. 18 Entonces el rey David entró para hablar delante del Señor, y dijo: «Señor, ¿quién soy yo y qué es mi familia para que me hayas hecho llegar hasta aquí? 19 ¡Y tan poca cosa te ha parecido esto, Señor, que hasta has hablado del porvenir de la dinastía de tu siervo! ¡Ningún hombre actúa como tú, Señor! 20 ¿Qué más te puedo decir, Señor, si tú conoces a este siervo tuyo? 21 Todas estas maravillas las has hecho, según lo prometiste y lo quisiste, para que yo las conociera; 22 por lo tanto, Señor mío, ¡qué grandeza la tuya! Porque no hay nadie como tú, ni existe otro dios aparte de ti, según todo lo que nosotros mismos hemos oído. 23 En cuanto a Israel, tu pueblo, ¡no hay otro como él, pues es nación única en la tierra! Tú, oh Dios, lo libertaste para que fuera tu pueblo, y lo hiciste famoso haciendo por él cosas grandes y maravillosas. Tú arrojaste de delante de tu pueblo, al que rescataste de Egipto, a las demás naciones y a sus dioses, 24 porque tú has determinado que Israel sea tu pueblo para siempre, y que tú, Señor, serás su Dios.
25 »Así pues, Señor y Dios, mantén para siempre la promesa que has hecho a tu siervo y a su dinastía, y cumple lo que has dicho. 26 ¡Que tu nombre sea siempre engrandecido, y se diga que el Señor todopoderoso es el Dios de Israel! ¡Que la dinastía de David, tu siervo, se mantenga firme con tu protección! 27 Tú, Señor todopoderoso, me has hecho saber que vas a establecer mi dinastía; por eso yo, aunque soy tu siervo, me atrevo a hacerte esta súplica. 28 Tú, Señor, eres Dios, y tus palabras son verdaderas, y has prometido a tu siervo tanta bondad; 29 dígnate, pues, bendecir la dinastía de tu siervo para que permanezca siempre bajo tu protección. Tú, Señor Dios, lo has prometido, y con tu bendición la dinastía de tu siervo será bendita para siempre.»
2 Samuel 7
New International Version
God’s Promise to David(A)
7 After the king was settled in his palace(B) and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies(C) around him,(D) 2 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)
3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind,(H) go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
5 “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) 6 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) 7 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)”’
8 “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) 9 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
- 2 Samuel 7:11 Traditionally judges
- 2 Samuel 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts you
- 2 Samuel 7:19 Or for the human race
- 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.
2 Samuel 7
New English Translation
The Lord Establishes a Covenant with David
7 The king settled into his palace,[a] for the Lord gave him relief[b] from all his enemies on all sides.[c] 2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent.” 3 Nathan replied to the king, “You should go[d] and do whatever you have in mind,[e] for the Lord is with you.” 4 That night the Lord’s message came to Nathan, 5 “Go, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has said: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent.[f] 7 Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say[g] to any of their leaders[h] whom I appointed to care for[i] my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?”’
8 “So now, say this to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd[j] to make you leader of my people Israel. 9 I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated[k] all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.[l] 10 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle[m] them there; they will live there and not be disturbed[n] anymore. Violent men[o] will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 11 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief[p] from all your enemies. The Lord declares[q] to you that he himself[r] will build a dynastic house[s] for you. 12 When the time comes for you to die,[t] I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you,[u] and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent.[v] 14 I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings. 15 But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will stand before me[w] permanently; your dynasty[x] will be permanent.’” 17 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.[y]
David Offers a Prayer to God
18 King David went in, sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family,[z] that you should have brought me to this point? 19 And you didn’t stop there, O Lord God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family.[aa] Is this your usual way of dealing with men,[ab] O Sovereign Lord? 20 What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition,[ac] O Sovereign Lord! 21 For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose[ad] you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant.[ae] 22 Therefore you are great, O Sovereign Lord, for there is none like you. There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true.[af] 23 Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation[ag] on the earth? Their God[ah] went[ai] to claim[aj] a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land,[ak] before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods.[al] 24 You made Israel your very own people for all time.[am] You, O Lord, became their God. 25 So now, O Lord God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality.[an] Do as you promised,[ao] 26 so you may gain lasting fame,[ap] as people say,[aq] ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ The dynasty[ar] of your servant David will be established before you, 27 for you, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, have told[as] your servant, ‘I will build you a dynastic house.’[at] That is why your servant has had the courage[au] to pray this prayer to you. 28 Now, O Sovereign Lord, you are the true God.[av] May your words prove to be true![aw] You have made this good promise to your servant.[ax] 29 Now be willing to bless your servant’s dynasty[ay] so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant’s dynasty be blessed from now on into the future!”[az]
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 7:1 tn Heb “house” (also in the following verse).
- 2 Samuel 7:1 tn Or “rest.”
- 2 Samuel 7:1 tn The translation understands the disjunctive clause in v. 1b as circumstantial-causal.
- 2 Samuel 7:3 tc Several medieval Hebrew mss and the Syriac Peshitta lack this word.
- 2 Samuel 7:3 tn Heb “all that is in your heart.”
- 2 Samuel 7:6 tn Heb “in a tent and in a dwelling.” The expression is a hendiadys, using two terms to express one idea.
- 2 Samuel 7:7 tn Heb “Did I speak a word?” In the Hebrew text the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question.
- 2 Samuel 7:7 tn Heb “tribes of Israel” (so KJV, NASB, NCV), but the parallel passage in 1 Chr 17:6 has “judges of Israel.”
- 2 Samuel 7:7 tn Heb “whom I commanded to shepherd” (so NIV, NRSV).
- 2 Samuel 7:8 tn Heb “and from after the sheep.”
- 2 Samuel 7:9 tn Heb “cut off.”
- 2 Samuel 7:9 tn Heb “and I will make for you a great name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.”
- 2 Samuel 7:10 tn Heb “plant.”
- 2 Samuel 7:10 tn Heb “shaken.”
- 2 Samuel 7:10 tn Heb “the sons of violence.”
- 2 Samuel 7:11 tn Or “rest.”
- 2 Samuel 7:11 tn In the Hebrew text the verb is apparently perfect with vav consecutive, which would normally suggest a future sense (“he will declare”; so the LXX, ἀπαγγελεῖ [apangelei]). But the context seems instead to call for a present or past nuance (“he declares” or “he has declared”). The synoptic passage in 1 Chr 17:10 has וָאַגִּד (vaʾaggid, “and I declared”). The construction used in 2 Sam 7:11 highlights this important statement.
- 2 Samuel 7:11 tn Heb “the Lord.”
- 2 Samuel 7:11 tn Heb “house,” but used here in a metaphorical sense, referring to a royal dynasty. Here the Lord’s use of the word plays off the literal sense that David had in mind as he contemplated building a temple for the Lord. To reflect this in the English translation the adjective “dynastic” has been supplied.
- 2 Samuel 7:12 tn Heb, “when your days are full and you lie down with your ancestors.”
- 2 Samuel 7:12 tn Heb “your seed after you who comes out from your insides.”
- 2 Samuel 7:13 tn Heb “and I will establish the throne of his kingdom permanently.”
- 2 Samuel 7:16 tc Heb “before you.” A few medieval Hebrew mss read instead “before me,” which makes better sense contextually. (See also the LXX and the Syriac Peshitta.) The MT reading is probably the result of dittography (note the כ [kaf] at the beginning of the next form), with the extra כ then being interpreted as a pronominal suffix.
- 2 Samuel 7:16 tn Heb “throne.”
- 2 Samuel 7:17 tn Heb “according to all these words and according to all this revelation, so Nathan said to David.”
- 2 Samuel 7:18 tn Heb “house.”
- 2 Samuel 7:19 tn Heb “and this was small in your eyes, O Lord God, so you spoke concerning the house of your servant for a distance.”
- 2 Samuel 7:19 tn Heb “and this [is] the law of man”; KJV “is this the manner of man, O Lord God?”; NAB “this too you have shown to man”; NRSV “May this be instruction for the people, O Lord God!” This part of the verse is very enigmatic; no completely satisfying solution has yet been suggested. The present translation tries to make sense of the MT by understanding the phrase as a question that underscores the uniqueness of God’s dealings with David as described here. The parallel passage in 1 Chr 17:17 reads differently (see the note there).
- 2 Samuel 7:20 tn Heb “and you know your servant.” The verb here refers to recognizing another in a special way and giving them special treatment (see 1 Chr 17:18). Some English versions take this to refer to the Lord’s knowledge of David himself: CEV “you know my thoughts”; NLT “know what I am really like.”
- 2 Samuel 7:21 tn Heb “for the sake of your word and according to your heart.”
- 2 Samuel 7:21 tn Heb “to make known, your servant.”
- 2 Samuel 7:22 tn Heb “in all which we heard with our ears.” The phrase translated “in all” בְּכֹל (bekhol) should probably be emended to “according to all” כְּכֹל (kekhol).
- 2 Samuel 7:23 tn Heb “a nation, one.”
- 2 Samuel 7:23 tn Heb “whose God” or “because God.” In the Hebrew text this clause is subordinated to what precedes. The clauses are separated in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- 2 Samuel 7:23 tn The verb is plural in Hebrew, agreeing grammatically with the divine name, which is a plural of degree.
- 2 Samuel 7:23 tn Heb “redeem.”
- 2 Samuel 7:23 tn Heb “and to do for you [plural form] the great [thing] and awesome [things] for your land.”
- 2 Samuel 7:23 tn Heb “from Egypt, nations and their gods.” The LXX has “nations and tents,” which reflects a mistaken metathesis of letters in אֶלֹהָיו (ʾelohayv, “its gods”) and אֹהָלָיו (ʾohalayv, “its tents”).
- 2 Samuel 7:24 tn Heb “and you established for yourself your people Israel for yourself for a people permanently.”
- 2 Samuel 7:25 tn Heb “and now, O Lord God, the word which you spoke concerning your servant and concerning his house, establish permanently.”
- 2 Samuel 7:25 tn Heb “as you have spoken.”
- 2 Samuel 7:26 tn Heb “and your name might be great permanently.” Following the imperative in v. 23b, the prefixed verbal form with vav conjunctive indicates purpose/result.
- 2 Samuel 7:26 tn Heb “saying.” The words “as people” are supplied in the translation for clarification and stylistic reasons.
- 2 Samuel 7:26 tn Heb “the house.” See the note on “dynastic house” in the following verse.
- 2 Samuel 7:27 tn Heb “have uncovered the ear of.”
- 2 Samuel 7:27 tn Heb “a house.” This maintains the wordplay from v. 11 (see the note on the word “house” there) and is continued in v. 29.
- 2 Samuel 7:27 tn Heb “has found his heart.”
- 2 Samuel 7:28 tn Heb “the God.” The article indicates uniqueness here.
- 2 Samuel 7:28 tn The translation understands the prefixed verb form as a jussive, indicating David’s wish/prayer. Another option is to take the form as an imperfect and translate “your words are true.”
- 2 Samuel 7:28 tn Heb “and you have spoken to your servant this good thing.”
- 2 Samuel 7:29 tn Heb “house” (again later in this verse). See the note on “dynastic house” in v. 27.
- 2 Samuel 7:29 tn Or “permanently”; cf. NLT “it is an eternal blessing.”
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