2 Chronicles 6:16
New International Version
“Now, LORD, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.’

New Living Translation
“And now, O LORD, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’

English Standard Version
Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’

King James Bible
Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

New King James Version
Therefore, LORD God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’

New American Standard Bible
Now then, LORD, God of Israel, keep to Your servant David, my father, that which You promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay attention to their way, to walk in My Law as you have walked before Me.’

NASB 1995
“Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’

NASB 1977
“Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Thy servant David, my father, that which Thou hast promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, O Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father, that which You have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not have a man cut off from before Me who is to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons keep their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’

Amplified Bible
Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, that which You promised him, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, provided your sons are careful to walk in My law as you, [David,] have walked before Me.’

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, LORD God of Israel, keep what you promised to your servant, my father David: “You will never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take care to walk in my Law as you have walked before me.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, LORD God of Israel, keep what You promised to Your servant, my father David: “You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons guard their way to walk in My Law as you have walked before Me.”

American Standard Version
Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only thy children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as thou hast walked before me.

Contemporary English Version
You promised that someone from his family would always be king of Israel, if they do their best to obey you, just as he did.

English Revised Version
Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; if only thy children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as thou hast walked before me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Now, LORD God of Israel, keep your promise to my father David, your servant. You said, 'You will never fail to have an heir sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel if your descendants are faithful to me as you have been faithful to me.'

Good News Translation
Now, LORD God of Israel, keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him that there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided that they carefully obeyed your Law just as he did.

International Standard Version
"Now therefore, LORD God of Israel, keep your promise that you made to my father, your servant David, when you said, 'You are to not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants will watch their lives, to live according to my Law, just as you have lived in my presence.'

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’

NET Bible
Now, O LORD God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, 'You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants watch their step and obey my law as you have done.'

New Heart English Bible
"Now therefore, LORD, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, 'There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.'

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; provided thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

World English Bible
“Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, ‘There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, O YHWH, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, that which You spoke to him, saying, A man of yours is never cut off from before My face, sitting on the throne of Israel—only, if your sons watch their way to walk in My law, as you have walked before Me.

Young's Literal Translation
'And now, O Jehovah, God of Israel, keep for Thy servant David my father that which Thou didst speak to him, saying, There is not cut off to thee a man from before Me, sitting on the throne of Israel, only, if thy sons watch their way to walk in My law, as thou hast walked before Me.

Smith's Literal Translation
And now Jehovah God of Israel, watch to thy servant David my father what thou spakest to him, saying, A man shall not be cut off to thee from before me sitting upon the throne of Israel; only if thy sons shall watch their way to go in my law according as thou wentest before me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now then, O Lord God of Israel, fulfil to thy servant David my father, whatsoever thou hast promised him, saying: There shall not fail thee a man in my sight, to sit upon the throne of Israel: yet so that thy children take heed to their ways, and walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now then, O Lord God of Israel, fulfill for your servant David, my father, whatsoever you said to him, saying: ‘There shall not fail to be a man from you before me, who will sit upon the throne of Israel, yet only if your sons will guard their ways, and will walk in my law, just as you also have walked before me.’

New American Bible
And now, LORD, God of Israel, keep toward your servant, David my father, what you promised: There shall never be wanting someone from your line to sit before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants keep to their way, walking by my law, as you have.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant, my father David, that which you promised him, saying, ‘There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children keep to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father the promise which thou hast made to him, saying, There shall not fail you a son in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; if only your children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as you have walked before me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Also now, LORD of LORDS of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the thing that you said to him: ‘You shall not lack a son before me who sits on the throne of Israel, only if your sons will keep their ways to walk before me in my Law, just as you walked before me.’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Thy servant David my father that which Thou hast promised him, saying: There shall not fail thee a man in My sight to sit on the throne of Israel; if only thy children take heed to their way, to walk in My law as thou hast walked before Me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and now, Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father the things which thou spokest to him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man before me sitting on the throne of Israel, if only thy sons will take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou didst walk before me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
15You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day. 16Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17And now, O LORD, God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant David.…

Cross References
1 Kings 8:25
Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’

2 Samuel 7:12-16
And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. ...

Psalm 132:11-12
The LORD swore an oath to David, a promise He will not revoke: “One of your descendants I will place on your throne. / If your sons keep My covenant and the testimony I will teach them, then their sons will also sit on your throne forever and ever.”

1 Kings 2:4
and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

1 Chronicles 17:11-14
And when your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. And I will never remove My loving devotion from him as I removed it from your predecessor. ...

Jeremiah 33:17-18
For this is what the LORD says: David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, / nor will the priests who are Levites ever fail to have a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to present sacrifices.”

1 Kings 9:5
then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

Psalm 89:3-4
You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant: / ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’” Selah

Psalm 89:29-37
I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure. / If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My judgments, / if they violate My statutes and fail to keep My commandments, ...

Luke 1:32-33
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, / and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

Acts 2:30
But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.

Romans 1:3
regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,

Matthew 1:1
This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Matthew 22:42-45
“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” “David’s,” they answered. / Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’? For he says: / ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’ ...

Luke 1:69-70
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, / as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,


Treasury of Scripture

Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; yet so that your children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as you have walked before me.

keep

Ezekiel 36:37
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.

John 15:14,15
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you…

saying

2 Chronicles 7:18
Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

2 Samuel 7:12-16
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom…

1 Kings 2:4
That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

There shall not fail thee a man [heb]

to walk

Psalm 26:3
For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

Psalm 119:1
ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

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Children David Fail Heed Israel Law Promised Provided Servant Sight Sit Throne Walk Walked Way
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2 Chronicles 6
1. Solomon, having blessed the people, blessed God
12. Solomon's prayer in the consecration of the temple, upon the bronze platform.














Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel
This phrase acknowledges the sovereignty and covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The Hebrew term for "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. "God of Israel" signifies the special relationship and covenant God has with the nation of Israel, chosen to be His people. This invocation sets the tone for a prayer rooted in historical and divine promises.

keep for Your servant David my father the promise You made to him
The word "keep" in Hebrew is "shamar," which means to guard, watch over, or preserve. It reflects a plea for God’s faithfulness in maintaining His covenant. The "promise" refers to the Davidic Covenant, a pivotal moment in biblical history where God assured David of an everlasting dynasty. This covenant is foundational for understanding the messianic hope that permeates the Old Testament, pointing ultimately to Jesus Christ.

when You said, ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel
This promise is a direct reference to 2 Samuel 7:12-16, where God assures David of a perpetual lineage. The phrase "never fail" underscores the certainty and divine guarantee of this promise. The "throne of Israel" symbolizes not just political authority but also spiritual leadership, as the king was to lead the people in covenant faithfulness to God.

if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My Law
The conditional "if only" introduces the requirement of obedience for the continuation of the promise. "Guard their way" uses the same Hebrew root "shamar," emphasizing vigilance in living according to God’s statutes. "Walk in My Law" reflects the Hebrew concept of "halakha," meaning to live or conduct oneself according to God’s commandments. This highlights the biblical theme that blessings are contingent upon obedience to God’s revealed will.

as you have walked before Me
This phrase commends David’s own faithfulness and sets a standard for his descendants. "Walked before Me" implies living a life in the presence of God, with integrity and devotion. It is a call to emulate David’s heart for God, despite his imperfections, as seen in his repentance and pursuit of God’s heart (1 Samuel 13:14). This sets a model for leadership that is accountable to God above all.

(16) Now therefore.--And now. So in 2Chronicles 6:17.

Keep that which thou hast promised--i.e., Thy further promise. See the fulfilment of the former promise, as described in 2Chronicles 6:10, supr.

There shall not fail thee.--See margin. Authorised Version follows LXX., ??? ???????? ???; and Vulg., "non deficiet ex te."

To sit.--Heb., sitting; LXX., ?????????.

Yet so that.--Only if; assigning a single condition; provided that. . . . LXX., ???? ??? ?????????; Vulg., "ita tamen si custodierint."

Take heed to.--Heb., keep (2Chronicles 6:14-16). . . .

Verse 16. - There shall not fail thee, etc. (so 2 Samuel 7:12; 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Kings 6:12). Yet so that thy children, etc. (so Psalm 132:12).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore now,
וְעַתָּ֞ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

O LORD,
יְהוָ֣ה ׀ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

keep
שְׁ֠מֹר (mōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

for Your servant,
לְעַבְדְּךָ֨ (lə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

my father
אָבִי֙ (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

David,
דָוִ֤יד (ḏā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

what
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

You promised
דִּבַּ֤רְתָּ (dib·bar·tā)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

when You said:
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘You will never
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

fail
יִכָּרֵ֨ת (yik·kā·rêṯ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

to have a man
אִישׁ֙ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

to sit
יוֹשֵׁ֖ב (yō·wō·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

before Me
מִלְּפָנַ֔י (mil·lə·p̄ā·nay)
Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the throne
כִּסֵּ֣א (kis·sê)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3678: Seat of honor, throne

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

only
רַ֠ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

your descendants
בָנֶ֜יךָ (ḇā·ne·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

guard
יִשְׁמְר֨וּ (yiš·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

their way
דַּרְכָּ֗ם (dar·kām)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

to walk
לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ (lā·le·ḵeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in My Law
בְּת֣וֹרָתִ֔י (bə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you have walked
הָלַ֖כְתָּ (hā·laḵ·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

before Me.’
לְפָנָֽי׃ (lə·p̄ā·nāy)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 6:16 Now therefore Yahweh the God of Israel (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 6:15
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