2 Samuel 7:1-9 ▼

1 And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies round about,

2 that the king said unto Nathan the prophet: 'See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.'

3 And Nathan said to the king: 'Go, do all that is in thy heart; for the LORD is with thee.'

4 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying:

5 Go and tell My servant David: Thus saith the LORD: Shalt thou build Me a house for Me to dwell in?

6 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

7 In all places wherein I have walked among all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying: Why have ye not built Me a house of cedar?

8 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto My servant David: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over My people, over Israel.

9 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou didst go, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a great name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth.