2 Samuel 7:1-17

New International Reader's Version

God’s Promise to David

7 The king moved into his palace. The Lord had given him peace and rest from all his enemies around him. ² Then the king spoke to Nathan the prophet. He said, “Here I am, living in a house that has beautiful cedar walls. But the ark of God remains in a tent.”

³ Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do what you want to. The Lord is with you.”

⁴ But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan. The Lord said,

⁵ “Go and speak to my servant David. Tell him, ‘The Lord says, “Are you the one to build me a house to live in? ⁶ I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt. But I have not lived in a house from then until now. I have been moving from place to place. I have been living in a tent. ⁷ I have moved from place to place with all the Israelites. I commanded their rulers to be shepherds over them. I never asked any of those rulers, ‘Why haven’t you built me a house that has beautiful cedar walls?’ ” ’

⁸ “So tell my servant David, ‘The Lord who rules over all says, “I took you away from the grasslands. That’s where you were taking care of your father’s sheep and goats. I made you ruler over my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I have destroyed all your enemies. Now I will make you famous. Your name will be just as respected as the names of the most important people on earth. ¹⁰ I will provide a place where my people Israel can live. I will plant them in the land. Then they will have a home of their own. They will not be bothered anymore. Evil people will no longer crush them, as they did at first. ¹¹ That is what your enemies have done ever since I appointed leaders over my people Israel. But I will give you peace and rest from all of them.

“ ‘ “I tell you that I, the Lord, will set up a royal house for you. ¹² Some day your life will come to an end. You will join the members of your family who have already died. Then I will make one of your own sons the next king after you. And I will make his kingdom secure. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house where I will put my Name. I will set up the throne of his kingdom. It will last forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father. And he will be my son. When he does what is wrong, I will use other men to beat him with rods and whips. ¹⁵ I took my love away from Saul. I removed him from being king. You were there when I did it. But I will never take my love away from your son. ¹⁶ Your royal house and your kingdom will last forever in my sight. Your throne will last forever.” ’ ”

¹⁷ Nathan reported to David all the words that the Lord had spoken to him.