⁴ But it happened that night,^[a] the word of Yahweh came^[b] to Nathan, saying, ⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh: “Are you the one to build for me a house for my dwelling? ⁶ For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought up the Israelites^[c] from Egypt until this day; rather, I was going about in a tent and in a tabernacle. ⁷ In all of my going about among all the Israelites,^[d] did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why did you not build me a cedar house?’”’ ⁸ So then, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “I took you from the pasture from following^[e] the sheep to be a leader over my people, over Israel, ⁹ and I have been with you everywhere you went.^[f] I have cut off all of your enemies from in front of you, and I will make a great name for you, as the name of the great ones who are on the earth. ¹⁰ I will make a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them^[g] so that they^[h] can dwell in their own place.^[i] They will not tremble any longer, and the children of wickedness will not afflict them again, as in the former days. ¹¹ In the manner that^[j] I appointed judges over my people Israel, I will give you rest from all your enemies. And Yahweh declares to you that Yahweh will build a house for you. ¹² When your days are full and you lie down with your ancestors,^[k] I will raise up your offspring after you who will go out from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be a father to him, and he will be a son for me, whom I will punish when he does wrong, with a rod of men and with blows of the human beings.^{[l] 15} But my loyal love shall not depart from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before you; your throne shall be established forever.”’”

David Responds to Yahweh’s Covenant

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