1 Chronicles 17:1-17 ▼

1 When David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, |Look, I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of the LORD's covenant is under a tent.|

2 Nathan said to David, |You should do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.|

3 That night God told Nathan the prophet,

4 Go, tell my servant David: 'This is what the LORD says: |You must not build me a house in which to live.

5 For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places.

6 Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, 'Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?'|'

7 So now, say this to my servant David: 'This is what the LORD who commands armies says: |I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you a leader of my people Israel.

8 I was with you wherever you went and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.

9 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning

10 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. |'|I declare to you that the LORD will build a dynastic house for you!

11 When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent.

13 I will become his father and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you.

14 I will put him in permanent charge of my house and my kingdom; his dynasty will be permanent.|'|

15 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.

16 David went in, sat before the LORD, and said: |Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point?

17 And you did not stop there, O God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant's family. You have revealed to me what men long to know, O LORD God.