2 Samuel 7:1-9 ▼

1 Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God remains within the tent.”

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

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

5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Should you build Me a house for My dwelling?

6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place.

7 Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

8 Now then, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘This is what the LORD of armies says: “I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel.

9 And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have eliminated all your enemies from you; I will also make a great name for you, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.