2 Samuel 7:18–29

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

(1 Chr 17:16–27)

18 Then King David went into the Tent of the Lord’s presence, sat down and prayed, “I am not worthy of what you have already done for me, Sovereign Lord, nor is my family. 19Yet now you are doing even more, Sovereign Lord; you have made promises about my descendants in the years to come. And you let a man see this,p Sovereign Lord! 20What more can I say to you! You know me, your servant. 21It was your will and purpose to do this; you have done all these great things in order to teach me. 22How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is none like you; we have always known that you alone are God. 23*There is no other nation on earth like Israel, whom you rescued from slavery to make them your own people. The great and wonderful things you did for themq have spread your fame throughout the world. You drove outr other nations and their gods as your people advanced, the people whom you set free from Egypt to be your own. 24You have made Israel your own people for ever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

25 “And now, Lord God, fulfil for all time the promise you made about me and my descendants, and do what you said you would. 26Your fame will be great, and people will for ever say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel.’ And you will preserve my dynasty for all time. 27Almighty Lord, God of Israel! I have the courage to pray this prayer to you, because you have revealed all this to me, your servant, and have told me that you will make my descendants kings.

28 “And now, Sovereign Lord, you are God; you always keep your promises, and you have made this wonderful promise to me. 29I ask you to bless my descendants so that they will continue to enjoy your favour. You, Sovereign Lord, have promised this, and your blessing will rest on my descendants for ever.”