International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1After the king had settled down in his palace and the LORD had given him respite from all of his surrounding enemies,

1Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

2he told the prophet Nathan, "Look now, I'm living in a cedar palace, but the Ark of God resides behind a tent curtain."

2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.”

3Nathan replied to the king, "Go do everything you have in mind, because the LORD is with you."

3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

4But later that same night, this message came to Nathan from the LORD:

4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,

5"Go tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: "'"Are you going to build a house for me to inhabit?

5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?

6After all, I haven't lived in a house since the day I brought up the Israelis from Egypt until now. Instead, I've moved around in a tent that served as my dwelling place.

6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.

7Wherever I moved among the Israelis, did I ever ask even one tribal leader of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, 'Why haven't you built me a cedar house?'

7In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

8"'"Now therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David: 'This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "I took you from the pasture myself—from tending sheep—to become Commander-in-Chief over my people, that is, over Israel.

8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.

9"'"Furthermore, I have remained with you everywhere you have gone, annihilating all your enemies right in front of you. I will make a great reputation for you, like the reputation of great ones who have lived on earth.

9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.

10I will establish a homeland for my people—for Israel—planting them so they may live in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people will no longer afflict them, as happened in the past

10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,

11when I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. I'll also grant you relief from all your enemies."' "'The LORD also announces to you: "The LORD will himself build a house for you.

11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.

12When your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come forth from your body, and I will fortify his kingdom.

12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13He will build a Temple dedicated to my Name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever.

13He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14I will be a father to him, and he will be to me a son who, when he commits iniquity, I will discipline with the rod wielded by armies and with wounds inflicted by human beings.

14I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

15But I'll never remove my gracious love from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed from your presence.

15but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

16Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain forever in my presence—your throne will be secure forever."'"

16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

17Nathan communicated this complete oracle to David with precisely these words.

17In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

18Then King David went in to the presence of the LORD, sat down, and said: "Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this?

18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

19And this is still a small thing to you, Lord GOD—you also have spoken about the future of your servant's house, and this is the charter for mankind, O Lord GOD!

19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!

20"What more can David say to you, and you surely know your servant, Lord GOD.

20And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD!

21For the sake of your word and consistent with your desire, you have done all of these great things, informing your servant.

21Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.

22And therefore you are great, Lord GOD, there is no one like you, there is no God except for you, just as we've heard with our own ears.

22Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23"And who is like your people, like Israel, the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to carry out for them great and awe-inspiring accomplishments, driving out nations and their gods in front of your people, whom you redeemed to yourself from Egypt?

23And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?

24You have prepared your people Israel to be your very own people for ever, and you, LORD, have become their God!

24And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God.

25"And now, LORD God, let what you have spoken concerning your servant and his household be done—and let it be done just as you've promised.

25And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.

26May your name be made great forever with the result that it is said that the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is God over Israel, and that the household of your servant David may be established before you.

26And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you.

27For you, LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant, telling him, 'I will build a dynasty for you,' so that your servant has found fortitude to pray this prayer to you.

27For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

28"Now therefore, Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have spoken to your servant these good things.

28And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.

29So may it please you to bless the household of your servant, so that it might remain forever in your presence, because you, Lord GOD, have spoken, and from your blessing may the household of your servant be blessed forever."

29Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.