2 Samuel 7:4-17

New Century Version

⁴ But that night the Lord spoke his word to Nathan, ⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Will you build a house for me to live in? ⁶ From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home. ⁷ As I have moved with the Israelites, I have never said to the tribes, whom I commanded to take care of my people Israel, “Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?”’

⁸ “You must tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: I took you from the pasture and from tending the sheep and made you leader of my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you everywhere you have gone and have defeated your enemies for you. I will make you as famous as any of the great people on the earth. ¹⁰ Also I will choose a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them so they can live in their own homes. They will not be bothered anymore. Wicked people will no longer bother them as they have in the past ¹¹ when I chose judges for my people Israel. But I will give you peace from all your enemies. I also tell you that I will make your descendants kings of Israel after you.

¹² “‘When you die and join your ancestors, I will make one of your sons the next king, and I will set up his kingdom. ¹³ He will build a house for me, and I will let his kingdom rule always. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he sins, I will use other people to punish him. They will be my whips. ¹⁵ I took away my love from Saul, whom I removed before you, but I will never stop loving your son. ¹⁶ But your family and your kingdom will continue always before me. Your throne will last forever.’”

¹⁷ Nathan told David everything God had said in this vision.