1 Chronicles 17:1-8 ▼

1 After David had settled down to live in his palace, he spoke with the prophet Nathan. |Look, here I am living in this cedar palace, but the ark of the LORD's covenant remains surrounded by curtains!|

2 |Do everything you have in mind,| Nathan replied to David, |because God is with you.|

3 But later that same night, this message came to Nathan from God:

4 |Go tell David, my servant, 'This is what the Lord says: |'|You won't be building a house for me to inhabit, will you?

5 After all, I haven't lived in a house from the day I brought out Israel until today. Instead, I've lived from tent to tent and from one place to another.

6 Wherever I've moved within all of Israel, did I ever ask even one judge of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people, 'Why haven't you built me a cedar house?'|'

7 |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 Israel.

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