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2 Samuel 7:4-17
New International Version
2 Samuel 7:4-17
New International Version
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(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)’”
17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 7:11 Traditionally judges
- 2 Samuel 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts you
2 Samuel 7:4-17
Amplified Bible
2 Samuel 7:4-17
Amplified Bible
4 But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Should you be the one to build Me a house in which to dwell? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought the sons (descendants) of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have gone with all the Israelites, did I speak a word to any from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, asking, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’
God’s Covenant with David
8 So now, say this to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like that of the great men of the earth. 10 I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in a place of their own and not be disturbed again. The [a]wicked will not afflict them again, as formerly, 11 even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that He will make a house (royal dynasty) for you. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down [in death] with your fathers (ancestors), I will raise up your descendant after you, who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He [is the one who] shall build a house for My [b]Name and My Presence, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. When he commits iniquity (wrongdoing), I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the strokes of the sons of man. 15 But My lovingkindness and mercy will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house (royal dynasty) and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.”’” 17 Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and all of this vision.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 7:10 Lit sons of wickedness.
- 2 Samuel 7:13 “Name” is equivalent to “Me” in 2 Sam 7:5. See also note Deut 12:5.
2 Samuel 7:4-17
The Message
2 Samuel 7:4-17
The Message
4-7 But that night, the word of God came to Nathan saying, “Go and tell my servant David: This is God’s word on the matter: You’re going to build a ‘house’ for me to live in? Why, I haven’t lived in a ‘house’ from the time I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt till now. All that time I’ve moved about with nothing but a tent. And in all my travels with Israel, did I ever say to any of the leaders I commanded to shepherd Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’
8-11 “So here is what you are to tell my servant David: The God-of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you: I took you from the pasture, tagging along after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel. I was with you everywhere you went and mowed your enemies down before you. Now I’m making you famous, to be ranked with the great names on earth. And I’m going to set aside a place for my people Israel and plant them there so they’ll have their own home and not be knocked around any more. Nor will evil men afflict you as they always have, even during the days I set judges over my people Israel. Finally, I’m going to give you peace from all your enemies.
11-16 “Furthermore, God has this message for you: God himself will build you a house! When your life is complete and you’re buried with your ancestors, then I’ll raise up your child, your own flesh and blood, to succeed you, and I’ll firmly establish his rule. He will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom’s rule permanently. I’ll be a father to him, and he’ll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I’ll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I’ll never remove my gracious love from him, as I removed it from Saul, who preceded you and whom I most certainly did remove. Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured. I’m keeping my eye on them! And your royal throne will always be there, rock solid.”
17 Nathan gave David a complete and accurate account of everything he heard and saw in the vision.
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2 Samuel 7:4-17
Contemporary English Version
2 Samuel 7:4-17
Contemporary English Version
4 That night, the Lord told Nathan 5 to go to David and give him this message:
David, you are my servant, so listen to what I say. Why should you build a temple for me? 6 I didn't live in a temple when I brought my people out of Egypt, and I don't live in one now. A tent has always been my home wherever I have gone with them. 7 I chose leaders and told them to be like shepherds for my people Israel. But did I ever say anything to even one of them about building a cedar temple for me?
8 (A) David, this is what I, the Lord All-Powerful, say to you. I brought you in from the fields where you took care of sheep, and I made you the leader of my people. 9 Wherever you went, I helped you and destroyed your enemies right in front of your eyes. I have made you one of the most famous people in the world.
10 I have given my people Israel a land of their own where they can live in peace, and they won't have to tremble with fear any more. Evil nations won't bother them, as they did 11 when I let judges rule my people. And I have kept your enemies from attacking you.
Now I promise that you and your descendants will be kings. 12 (B) I'll choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I'll make him a strong ruler, 13 and no one will be able to take his kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me. 14 (C) I will be his father, and he will be my son.
When he does wrong, I'll see that he is corrected, just as children are corrected by their parents. 15 But I will never put an end to my agreement with him, as I put an end to my agreement with Saul, who was king before you. 16 (D) I will make sure that one of your descendants will always be king.
17 Nathan told David exactly what he had heard in the vision.
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