1 When David was settled in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under tent curtains.” 2 Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

3 But that night the word of God came to Nathan: 4 “Go and tell David my servant, ‘This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 5 For I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up to this day. I have moved from tent to tent, from one tabernacle to another. 6 Wherever I have gone with all Israel, did I ever say a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’ 7 Now say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the LORD of hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.

8 I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies before you. I will make your name like the names of the great ones of the earth. 9 I will appoint a place for my people Israel and plant them there, so they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. Wicked men will no longer wear them down as they did at first, 10 from the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. And I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you. 11 When your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your sons, and establish his kingdom. 12 He will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. I will not take my steadfast love from him as I took it from the one who was before you. 14 I will establish him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.’ ” 15 Nathan told David all these words and this entire vision.

16 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD. He said, “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far? 17 Yet this was a small thing in your eyes, God, for you have also spoken of your servant’s house far into the future. You have regarded me as a man of high rank, LORD God. 18 What more can David say to you about the honor given to your servant? You know your servant. 19 LORD, for your servant’s sake and according to your own heart, you have done all these great things, making all this greatness known. 20 LORD, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all we have heard with our own ears. 21 Who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem as his people, to make a name for yourself through great and awesome deeds, driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, LORD, became their God. 23 Now, LORD, let the word you have spoken concerning your servant and his house stand firm forever, and do as you have said. 24 Let it stand firm, and let your name be magnified forever, so people will say, ‘The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, is God to Israel.’ Let the house of David your servant be established before you. 25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. 26 Now, LORD, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27 You have now been pleased to bless the house of your servant, so it may remain before you forever. For you, LORD, have blessed it, and it is blessed forever.”