God’s Covenant with David
(2 Samuel 7:1–17)

1  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) יָשַׁ֥ב (was dwelling) דָּוִ֖יד (David) בְּבֵית֑וֹ (in his house), וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (that said) דָּוִ֜יד (David) אֶל־ (to) נָתָ֣ן (Nathan) הַנָּבִ֗יא (the prophet), הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), אָנֹכִ֤י (I) יוֹשֵׁב֙ (dwell) בְּבֵ֣ית (in a house) הָֽאֲרָזִ֔ים (of cedars), וַאֲר֥וֹן (and the ark) בְּרִית־ (of the covenant) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) תַּ֥חַת (is under) יְרִיעֽוֹת׃ (curtains).

2  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) נָתָן֙ (Nathan) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔יד (David), כֹּ֛ל (All) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ (in your heart) עֲשֵׂ֑ה (do), כִּ֥י (for) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God is) עִמָּֽךְ׃ס (with you).

3  וַֽיְהִ֖י (And it came to pass) בַּלַּ֣יְלָה (in the night), הַה֑וּא (that) וַיְהִי֙ (and came) דְּבַר־ (the word) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) אֶל־ (to) נָתָ֖ן (Nathan), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 4  לֵ֤ךְ (Go) וְאָמַרְתָּ֙ (and tell) אֶל־ (unto) דָּוִ֣יד (David) עַבְדִּ֔י (My servant), כֹּ֖ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH): לֹ֥א (Not) אַתָּ֛ה (You) תִּבְנֶה־ (shall build) לִּ֥י (Me) הַבַּ֖יִת (a house) לָשָֽׁבֶת׃ (to dwell in). 5  כִּ֣י (For) לֹ֤א (not) יָשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙ (I have dwelt) בְּבַ֔יִת (in a house) מִן־ (since) הַיּ֗וֹם (the time) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) הֶעֱלֵ֙יתִי֙ (I brought up) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), עַ֖ד (even to) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), וָֽאֶהְיֶ֛ה (and I have been) מֵאֹ֥הֶל (from tent) אֶל־ (to) אֹ֖הֶל (tent), וּמִמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ (and from the Dwelling Place). 6  בְּכֹ֥ל (In all) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (where) הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי֮ (I have walked) בְּכָל־ (among all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (Israel), הֲדָבָ֣ר (a word) דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי (have I ever spoken) אֶת־ (to) אַחַד֙ (one) שֹׁפְטֵ֣י (of the leaders) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) צִוִּ֛יתִי (I commanded) לִרְע֥וֹת (to shepherd) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֖י (My people), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), לָ֛מָּה (Why) לֹא־ (not) בְנִיתֶ֥ם (have you⁺ built) לִ֖י (for Me) בֵּ֥ית (a house) אֲרָזִֽים׃ (of cedars).

7  וְ֠עַתָּה (And now) כֹּֽה־ (thus) תֹאמַ֞ר (shall you say) לְעַבְדִּ֣י (to My servant) לְדָוִ֗ידס (David); כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) צְבָא֔וֹת (of Hosts): אֲנִ֤י (I) לְקַחְתִּ֙יךָ֙ (took you) מִן־ (from) הַנָּוֶ֔ה (the sheepfold), מִֽן־ (from) אַחֲרֵ֖י (after) הַצֹּ֑אן (the sheep), לִהְי֣וֹת (to be) נָגִ֔יד (ruler) עַ֖ל (over) עַמִּ֥י (My people) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel). 8  וָֽאֶהְיֶ֣ה (And I have been) עִמְּךָ֗ (with you) בְּכֹל֙ (in all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (to which) הָלַ֔כְתָּ (you have gone), וָאַכְרִ֥ית (and I have cut off) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אוֹיְבֶ֖יךָ (your enemies) מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ (from before your face), וְעָשִׂ֤יתִֽי (and I will make) לְךָ֙ (for you) שֵׁ֔ם (a name) כְּשֵׁ֥ם (like the name) הַגְּדוֹלִ֖ים (of the great men) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who are) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (on the earth).

9  וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י (And I will set) מָ֠קוֹם (a place) לְעַמִּ֨י (for My people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (Israel) וּנְטַעְתִּ֙יהוּ֙ (and I will plant them) וְשָׁכַ֣ן (and they will settle) תַּחְתָּ֔יו (in their place), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִרְגַּ֖ז (shall they be disturbed) ע֑וֹד (anymore), וְלֹא־ (and not) יוֹסִ֤יפוּ (anymore) בְנֵי־ (the sons) עַוְלָה֙ (of wickedness) לְבַלֹּת֔וֹ (shall oppress them) כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) בָּרִאשׁוֹנָֽה׃ (at the beginning), 10  וּלְמִיָּמִ֗ים (and since the days) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) צִוִּ֤יתִי (I appointed) שֹֽׁפְטִים֙ (judges) עַל־ (over) עַמִּ֣י (My people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel). וְהִכְנַ֖עְתִּי (And I will subdue) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אוֹיְבֶ֑יךָ (your enemies).

וָאַגִּ֣ד (And I declare) לָ֔ךְ (you) וּבַ֖יִת (that a house) יִֽבְנֶה־ (will build) לְּךָ֥ (for you) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 11  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it shall come to pass), כִּֽי־ (when) מָלְא֤וּ (are fulfilled) יָמֶ֙יךָ֙ (your days) לָלֶ֣כֶת (and you go) עִם־ (with) אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ (your fathers), וַהֲקִֽימוֹתִ֤י (that I will raise up) אֶֽת־ (-) זַרְעֲךָ֙ (your seed) אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ (after you) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) יִהְיֶ֖ה (will be) מִבָּנֶ֑יךָ (from your sons), וַהֲכִינוֹתִ֖י (and I will establish) אֶת־ (-) מַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃ (his kingdom). 12  ה֥וּא (He) יִבְנֶה־ (will build) לִּ֖י (for Me) בָּ֑יִת (a house), וְכֹנַנְתִּ֥י (and I will establish) אֶת־ (-) כִּסְא֖וֹ (his throne) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever). 13  אֲנִי֙ (I) אֶֽהְיֶה־ (will be) לּ֣וֹ (his) לְאָ֔ב (Father), וְה֖וּא (and he) יִֽהְיֶה־ (will be) לִּ֣י (My) לְבֵ֑ן (son). וְחַסְדִּי֙ (And My loving devotion) לֹא־ (not) אָסִ֣יר (I will turn aside) מֵֽעִמּ֔וֹ (from him) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (as) הֲסִיר֔וֹתִי (I turned it aside) מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר (from him who) הָיָ֖ה (was) לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (before you). 14  וְהַֽעֲמַדְתִּ֛יהוּ (And I will establish him) בְּבֵיתִ֥י (in My house) וּבְמַלְכוּתִ֖י (and in My kingdom) עַד־ (even to) הָעוֹלָ֑ם (forever), וְכִסְא֕וֹ (and his throne) יִהְיֶ֥ה (will be) נָכ֖וֹן (established) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever).

15  כְּכֹל֙ (According to all) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the words) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) וּכְכֹ֖ל (and according to all) הֶחָז֣וֹן (the vision) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), כֵּ֛ן (so) דִּבֶּ֥ר (spoke) נָתָ֖ן (Nathan) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִֽיד׃פ (David).

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
(2 Samuel 7:18–29)

16  וַיָּבֹא֙ (And went in) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) דָּוִ֔יד (David) וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (and sat) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), מִֽי־ (Who) אֲנִ֞י (am I), יְהוָ֤ה (O YHWH) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God), וּמִ֣י (and what is) בֵיתִ֔י (my house), כִּ֥י (that) הֲבִיאֹתַ֖נִי (You have brought me) עַד־ (as far as) הֲלֹֽם׃ (here)? 17  וַתִּקְטַ֨ן (And was a small thing) זֹ֤את (this) בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ (in your eyes), אֱלֹהִ֔ים (O God), וַתְּדַבֵּ֥ר (and You have spoken) עַל־ (of) בֵּֽית־ (the house) עַבְדְּךָ֖ (of Your servant) לְמֵרָח֑וֹק (afar off), וּרְאִיתַ֗נִי (and have regarded me) כְּת֧וֹר (as a type) הָאָדָ֛ם (of the man) הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה (on high), יְהוָ֥ה (O YHWH) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (God). 18  מַה־ (What) יּוֹסִ֨יף (can say) ע֥וֹד (more) דָּוִ֛יד (David) אֵלֶ֖יךָ (to You) לְכָב֣וֹד (for the honor) אֶת־ (of Your) עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (servant)? וְאַתָּ֖ה (And for You) אֶֽת־ (-) עַבְדְּךָ֥ (Your servant) יָדָֽעְתָּ׃ (know), 19  יְהוָ֕ה (O YHWH). בַּעֲב֤וּר (For the sake) עַבְדְּךָ֙ (of Your servant) וּֽכְלִבְּךָ֔ (and according to Your own heart) עָשִׂ֕יתָ (You have done) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַגְּדוּלָּ֖ה (the greatness) הַזֹּ֑את (this) לְהֹדִ֖יעַ (in making known) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הַגְּדֻלּֽוֹת׃ (these great things).

20  יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH), אֵ֣ין (none is) כָּמ֔וֹךָ (like You), וְאֵ֥ין (and there is no) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) זוּלָתֶ֑ךָ (besides You), בְּכֹ֥ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ (we have heard) בְּאָזְנֵֽינוּ׃ (with our ears). 21  וּמִי֙ (And who is) כְּעַמְּךָ֣ (like Your people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), גּ֥וֹי (the nation) אֶחָ֖ד (one) בָּאָ֑רֶץ (on the earth) אֲשֶׁר֩ (whom) הָלַ֨ךְ (went) הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים (God) לִפְדּ֧וֹת (to redeem) ל֣וֹ (for Himself) עָ֗ם (as a people), לָשׂ֤וּם (to make) לְךָ֙ (for Yourself) שֵׁ֚ם (a name) גְּדֻלּ֣וֹת (great) וְנֹרָא֔וֹת (and to be feared), לְגָרֵ֗שׁ (to drive out) מִפְּנֵ֧י (from before the faces) עַמְּךָ֛ (of Your people) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) פָּדִ֥יתָ (You redeemed) מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם (from Egypt) גּוֹיִֽם׃ (nations). 22  וַ֠תִּתֵּן (And You have made) אֶת־ (-) עַמְּךָ֨ (Your people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל׀ (Israel) לְךָ֛ (Your) לְעָ֖ם (people) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָ֑ם (forever), וְאַתָּ֣ה (and You), יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH), הָיִ֥יתָ (have become) לָהֶ֖ם (their) לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ (God).

23  וְעַתָּ֣ה (And now), יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH), הַדָּבָ֗ר (the word) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) דִּבַּ֤רְתָּ (You have spoken) עַֽל־ (concerning) עַבְדְּךָ֙ (Your servant) וְעַל־ (and concerning) בֵּית֔וֹ (his house), יֵאָמֵ֖ן (may it be confirmed) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָ֑ם (forever), וַעֲשֵׂ֖ה (and do) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃ (You have spoken). 24  וְ֠יֵֽאָמֵן (And may it be confirmed), וְיִגְדַּ֨ל (and magnified) שִׁמְךָ֤ (Your name) עַד־ (even) עוֹלָם֙ (forever), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) צְבָאוֹת֙ (of Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), אֱלֹהִ֖ים (is God) לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (to Israel). וּבֵית־ (And may the house) דָּוִ֥יד (of David) עַבְדְּךָ֖ (Your servant) נָכ֥וֹן (let be established) לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (before You). 25  כִּ֣י׀ (For) אַתָּ֣ה (You), אֱלֹהַ֗י (my God), גָּלִ֙יתָ֙ (have uncovered) אֶת־ (-) אֹ֣זֶן (the ear) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (to Your servant), לִבְנ֥וֹת (that You will build) ל֖וֹ (for him) בָּ֑יִת (a house). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּן֙ (thus) מָצָ֣א (has found it) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (Your servant) לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל (to pray) לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (before You).

26  וְעַתָּ֣ה (And now), יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH), אַתָּה־ (You) ה֖וּא (are) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (God), וַתְּדַבֵּר֙ (and You spoke) עַֽל־ (to) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (Your servant) הַטּוֹבָ֖ה (the goodness) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this). 27  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And) הוֹאַ֙לְתָּ֙ (You have been pleased) לְבָרֵךְ֙ (to bless) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֣ית (the house) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (of Your servant), לִהְי֥וֹת (that it may be) לְעוֹלָ֖ם (forever) לְפָנֶ֑יךָ (before You). כִּֽי־ (For) אַתָּ֤ה (You), יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH), בֵּרַ֔כְתָּ (have blessed it), וּמְבֹרָ֖ךְ (and it will be blessed) לְעוֹלָֽם׃פ (forever).