2 Samuel 7:12–29

¹²When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.^{v 13}He is the one who will build a house for my name,^w and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.^{x 14}I will be his father, and he will be my son.^y When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. ¹⁵But my faithful love will never leave him^z as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.^{a 16}Your house and kingdom will endure before me^A forever,^b and your throne will be established forever.’ ”^c

¹⁷Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

DAVID’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

¹⁸Then King David went in,^d sat in the Lord’s presence, and said,

Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far? ¹⁹What you have done so far^B was a little thing to you, Lord God, for you have also spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. And this is a revelation^C for mankind, Lord God. ²⁰What more can David say to you? You know your servant,^e Lord God. ²¹Because of your word and according to your will, you have revealed all these great things to your servant.

²²This is why you are great,^f Lord God. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you,^g as all we have heard confirms. ²³And who is like your people Israel? God came to one nation on earth in order to redeem a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to perform for them^A great and awesome acts,^B driving out nations and their gods before your people you redeemed for yourself from Egypt.^{h 24}You established your people Israel to be your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.ⁱ

²⁵Now, Lord God, fulfill the promise forever that you have made to your servant and his house. Do as you have promised, ²⁶so that your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, “The Lord of Armies is God over Israel.” The house of your servant David^j will be established before you ²⁷since you, Lord of Armies, God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant when you said, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you. ²⁸Lord God, you are God; your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. ²⁹Now, please bless your servant’s house so that it will continue before you forever. For you, Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing your servant’s house will be blessed forever.^k