The Story of Nathan

2 Samuel 7:1–17 WEB

¹When the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, ²the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within curtains.” ³Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” ⁴That same night, the LORD’s word came to Nathan, saying, ⁵“Go and tell my servant David, ‘The LORD says, “Should you build me a house for me to dwell in? ⁶For I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle. ⁷In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, did I say a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’ ⁸Now therefore tell my servant David this: ‘The LORD of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel. ⁹I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth. ¹⁰I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not afflict them any more, as at the first, ¹¹and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD tells you that the LORD will make you a house. ¹²When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men; ¹⁵but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’” ¹⁷Nathan spoke to David all these words, and according to all this vision.