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2 Samuel 7
New American Standard Bible

David Plans to Build a Temple

7 (A)Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 that the king said to (B)Nathan the prophet, “See now, I live in (C)a house of cedar, but the ark of God (D)remains within the tent.” 3 Nathan said to the king, “(E)Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”

4 But in the same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “(F)Should you build Me a house for My dwelling? 6 For (G)I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about (H)in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place. 7 (I)Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, (J)whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

God’s Covenant with David

8 Now then, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “(K)I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, (L)to be leader over My people Israel. 9 And (M)I have been with you wherever you have gone, and (N)have eliminated all your enemies from you; I will also make a great name for you, like the names of the great men who [a]are on the earth. 10 And I will establish a place for My people Israel, and (O)will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, (P)nor will [b]malicious people oppress them anymore as previously, 11 even (Q)from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and (R)I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that (S)the Lord will make a house for you. 12 (T)When your days are finished and you [c](U)lie down with your fathers, (V)I will raise up your [d]descendant after you, who will come from [e]you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 (W)He shall build a house for My name, and (X)I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 (Y)I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; (Z)when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind, 15 but My favor shall not depart from him, (AA)as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you. 16 (AB)Your house and your kingdom shall endure before [f]Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all of this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

18 Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “(AC)Who am I, Lord [g]God, and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God, (AD)for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And (AE)this is the [h]custom of mankind, Lord God. 20 Again what more can David say to You? For (AF)You know Your servant, Lord God! 21 (AG)For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason (AH)You are great, Lord God; for (AI)there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, (AJ)according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And (AK)what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and (AL)to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, [i]because of (AM)Your people whom (AN)You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods? 24 For (AO)You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and (AP)You, Lord, have become their God. 25 Now then, Lord God, the word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do just as You have spoken, 26 (AQ)so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of armies is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have [j]given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘(AR)I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found [k]courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now then, Lord God, You are God, and (AS)Your words are truth; and You have [l]promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 And now, may [m]it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord God, have spoken; and [n](AT)with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:9 Or were
  2. 2 Samuel 7:10 Lit sons of malice
  3. 2 Samuel 7:12 I.e., die
  4. 2 Samuel 7:12 Lit seed
  5. 2 Samuel 7:12 Lit your bowels
  6. 2 Samuel 7:16 As in LXX and some ancient mss; MT you
  7. 2 Samuel 7:18 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  8. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or law
  9. 2 Samuel 7:23 Or before Your
  10. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit uncovered the ear of
  11. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit his heart
  12. 2 Samuel 7:28 Lit spoken
  13. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit You be resolved and bless
  14. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit from
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2 Samuel 7
New King James Version

God’s Covenant with David(A)

7 Now it came to pass (B)when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in (C)a house of cedar, (D)but the ark of God dwells inside tent (E)curtains.”

3 Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your (F)heart, for the Lord is with you.”

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: (G)“Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house (H)since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in (I)a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have (J)moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded (K)to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’ 8 Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: (L)“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. 9 And (M)I have been with you wherever you have gone, (N)and have [a]cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will (O)plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; (P)nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, 11 (Q)since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord [b]tells you (R)that He will make you a [c]house.

12 (S)“When your days are fulfilled and you (T)rest with your fathers, (U)I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 (V)He shall build a house for My name, and I will (W)establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 (X)I will be his Father, and he shall be (Y)My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the [d]blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, (Z)as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And (AA)your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before [e]you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Thanksgiving to God(AB)

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: (AC)“Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. (AD)Is this the manner of man, O Lord God? 20 Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, (AE)know Your servant. 21 For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. 22 Therefore (AF)You are great, [f]O Lord God. For (AG)there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our (AH)ears. 23 And who is like Your people, like Israel, (AI)the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before (AJ)Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? 24 For (AK)You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; (AL)and You, Lord, have become their God.

25 “Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. 26 So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.

28 “And now, O Lord God, You are God, and (AM)Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed (AN)forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:9 destroyed
  2. 2 Samuel 7:11 declares to you
  3. 2 Samuel 7:11 Royal dynasty
  4. 2 Samuel 7:14 strokes
  5. 2 Samuel 7:16 LXX Me
  6. 2 Samuel 7:22 Tg., Syr. O Lord God
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2 Samuel 7
English Standard Version

The Lord's Covenant with David

7 (A)Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord (B)had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to (C)Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell (D)in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells (E)in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, (F)“Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: (G)Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house (H)since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about (I)in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where (J)I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with (K)any of the judges[a] of Israel, whom I commanded (L)to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, (M)I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince[b] over my people Israel. 9 (N)And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel (O)and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place (P)and be disturbed no more. (Q)And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 (R)from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And (S)I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that (T)the Lord will make you a house. 12 (U)When your days are fulfilled and (V)you lie down with your fathers, (W)I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body,[c] and I will establish his kingdom. 13 (X)He shall build a house for my name, and (Y)I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 (Z)I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, (AA)I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 (AB)but my steadfast love will not depart from him, (AC)as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 (AD)And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[d] (AE)Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David's Prayer of Gratitude

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, (AF)“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. (AG)You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? (AH)For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 (AI)Therefore you are great, O Lord God. (AJ)For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 (AK)And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name (AL)and doing for them[e] great and awesome things by driving out before your people,[f] whom (AM)you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24 (AN)And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25 And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and (AO)your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, (AP)and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:7 Compare 1 Chronicles 17:6; Hebrew tribes
  2. 2 Samuel 7:8 Or leader
  3. 2 Samuel 7:12 Hebrew loins
  4. 2 Samuel 7:16 Septuagint; Hebrew you
  5. 2 Samuel 7:23 With a few Targums, Vulgate, Syriac; Hebrew you
  6. 2 Samuel 7:23 Septuagint (compare 1 Chronicles 17:21); Hebrew awesome things for your land, before your people
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2 Samuel 7
Living Bible

7 When the Lord finally sent peace upon the land, and Israel was no longer at war with the surrounding nations, 2 David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! Here I am living in this beautiful cedar palace while the Ark of God is out in a tent!”

3 “Go ahead with what you have in mind,” Nathan replied, “for the Lord is with you.”

4 But that night the Lord said to Nathan, 5 “Tell my servant David not to do it![a] 6 For I have never lived in a temple. My home has been a tent ever since the time I brought Israel out of Egypt. 7 And I have never once complained to Israel’s leaders, the shepherds of my people. Have I ever asked them, ‘Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar temple?’

8 “Now go and give this message to David from the Lord of heaven: ‘I chose you to be the leader of my people Israel when you were a mere shepherd, tending your sheep in the pastureland. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone and have destroyed your enemies. And I will make your name greater yet, so that you will be one of the most famous men in the world! 10-11 I have selected a homeland for my people from which they will never have to move. It will be their own land where the heathen nations won’t bother them as they did when the judges ruled my people. There will be no more wars against you; and your descendants shall rule this land for generations to come! 12 For when you die, I will put one of your sons upon your throne, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who shall build me a temple. And I will continue his kingdom into eternity. 14 I will be his father and he shall be my son. If he sins, I will use other nations to punish him, 15 but my love and kindness shall not leave him as I took it from Saul, your predecessor. 16 Your family shall rule my kingdom forever.’”

17 So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said.

18 Then David went into the Tabernacle and sat before the Lord and prayed, “O Lord God, why have you showered your blessings on such an insignificant person as I am? 19 And now, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving me an eternal dynasty! Such generosity is far beyond any human standard! O Lord God! 20 What can I say? For you know what I am like! 21 You are doing all these things just because you promised to and because you want to! 22 How great you are, Lord God! We have never heard of any other God like you. And there is no other God. 23 What other nation in all the earth has received such blessings as Israel, your people? For you have rescued your chosen nation in order to bring glory to your name. You have done great miracles to destroy Egypt and its gods. 24 You chose Israel to be your people forever, and you became our God.

25 “And now, Lord God, do as you have promised concerning me and my family. 26 And may you be eternally honored when you have established Israel as your people and have established my dynasty before you. 27 For you have revealed to me, O Lord of heaven, God of Israel, that I am the first of a dynasty which will rule your people forever; that is why I have been bold enough to pray this prayer of acceptance. 28 For you are indeed God, and your words are truth; and you have promised me these good things— 29 so do as you have promised! Bless me and my family forever! May our dynasty continue on and on before you; for you, Lord God, have promised it.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:5 Tell my servant David not to do it! literally, “Shall you build me a house to dwell in?”
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