David’s Prayer(A)

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I,(B) 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,(C) Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human![a]

20 “What more can David say(D) to you? For you know(E) your servant,(F) 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(G) you are,(H) Sovereign Lord! There is no one like(I) you, and there is no God(J) but you, as we have heard with our own ears.(K) 23 And who is like your people Israel(L)—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name(M) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders(N) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed(O) from Egypt?[b] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own(P) forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.(Q)

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise(R) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name(S) 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(T) 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,(U) 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(V) the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or for the human race
  2. 2 Samuel 7:23 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 17:21; Hebrew wonders for your land and before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.

David’s prayer

18 Then King David went and sat in the Lord’s presence. He asked:

Who am I, Lord God, and of what significance is my family that you have brought me this far? 19 But even this was too small in your eyes, Lord God! Now you have also spoken about your servant’s dynasty in the future and the generation to come,[a] Lord God!

20 What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord God. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your own will, you have done this great thing so that your servant would know it.

22 That is why you are so great, Lord God! No one can compare to you, no god except you, just as we have always heard with our own ears.

23 And who can compare to your people Israel? They are the one nation on earth that God redeemed as his own people, establishing his name by doing great and awesome things for them,[b] by driving out nations and their gods before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt.[c] 24 You established your people Israel as your own people forever, and you, Lord, became their God.

25 Now, Lord God, confirm forever the promise you have made about your servant and his dynasty. Do just as you have promised 26 so that your name will be great forever when people say, “The Lord of heavenly forces is Israel’s God!” May your servant David’s household be established before you, 27 because you, Lord of heavenly forces, Israel’s God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a dynasty for him. That is why your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you.

28 Lord God, you are truly God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 So now willingly bless your servant’s dynasty so that it might continue forever before you, because you, Lord God, have promised. Let your servant’s dynasty be blessed forever by your blessing.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:19 Correction; Heb uncertain this is the law of humankind
  2. 2 Samuel 7:23 Or you (plural)
  3. 2 Samuel 7:23 LXX, 1 Chron 17:21; MT for your land before your people whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, the nations and their gods