“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,(A) and appointed you ruler(B) over my people Israel.(C) I have been with you wherever you have gone,(D) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.(E) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.(F) 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant(G) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.(H) Wicked(I) people will not oppress them anymore,(J) as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[a](K) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.(L)

“‘The Lord declares(M) to you that the Lord himself will establish(N) a house(O) for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest(P) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,(Q) and I will establish his kingdom.(R) 13 He is the one who will build a house(S) for my Name,(T) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.(U) 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.(V) When he does wrong, I will punish him(W) with a rod(X) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him,(Y) as I took it away from Saul,(Z) whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[b]; your throne(AA) will be established(AB) forever.(AC)’”

17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:11 Traditionally judges
  2. 2 Samuel 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts you

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(B) (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)(C) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem(D) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him(E) and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before

Bible Gateway Recommends