1 Chronicles 17:1-17 ▼

1 It happened, when David lived in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, |Look, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under curtains.|

2 Nathan said to David, |Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you.|

3 It happened the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4 |Go and tell David my servant, 'Thus says the LORD, |You shall not build me a house to dwell in;

5 for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone about from tent to tent, and from tabernacle [to tabernacle].

6 In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'|'

7 |Now therefore, you shall tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, |I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.

8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

9 I 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; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,

10 and from the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that the LORD will build you a house.

11 And it will come about when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will raise up your descendant after you, who shall be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. I will not take my loving kindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before you;

14 but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever. His throne shall be established forever.|'|

15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

16 Then king David went in and sat before the LORD and said, |Who am I, LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

17 This was a small thing in your eyes, God, but you have spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and you have let me look upon the generation of humankind to come, LORD God.