⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you^(A) the one to build me a house to dwell in?^{(B) 6} I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.^(C) I have been moving from place to place with a tent^(D) as my dwelling.^{(E) 7} Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,^(F) did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd^(G) my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house^(H) of cedar?^(I)”’

⁸ “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,^(J) and appointed you ruler^(K) over my people Israel.^{(L) 9} I have been with you wherever you have gone,^(M) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.^(N) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.^{(O) 10} And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant^(P) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.^(Q) Wicked^(R) people will not oppress them anymore,^(S) as they did at the beginning ¹¹ and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders^[a](T) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.^(U)

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

“Who am I,^(AN) 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,^(AO) Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!^[c]

²⁰ “What more can David say^(AP) to you? For you know^(AQ) your servant,^(AR) 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^(AS) you are,^(AT) Sovereign Lord! There is no one like^(AU) you, and there is no God^(AV) but you, as we have heard with our own ears.^{(AW) 23} And who is like your people Israel^(AX)—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name^(AY) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders^(AZ) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed^(BA) from Egypt?^{[d] 24} You have established your people Israel as your very own^(BB) forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.^(BC)

²⁵ “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise^(BD) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, ²⁶ so that your name^(BE) 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^(BF) 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,^(BG) 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^(BH) the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”