The Lord’s Covenant with David

17 When David^(A) had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! I am living in a cedar house while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under tent curtains.”^(B)

² So Nathan told David, “Do all that is on your heart, for God is with you.”

³ But that night^(C) the word of God came to Nathan: ⁴ “Go to David My servant and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build Me a house to dwell in.^{(D) 5} From the time I brought Israel out of Egypt until today I have not lived in a house; instead, I have moved from tent to tent and from tabernacle to tabernacle.^{(E) 6} In all My travels throughout Israel, have I ever spoken a word to even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, asking: Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’^(F)

⁷ “Now this is what you will say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.^{(G) 8} I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest in the land. ⁹ I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them,^(H) so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they formerly have ¹⁰ ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.

“‘Furthermore, I declare to you that the Lord Himself will build a house for you. ¹¹ When your time comes to be with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who is one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹² He will build a house for Me,^(I) and I will establish his throne forever. ¹³ I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me.^(J) I will not take away My faithful love from him as I took it from the one who was before you.^{(K) 14} I will appoint him over My house and My kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.’”^(L)

¹⁵ Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.