2 Samuel 7:1–13

David’s Wish to Build a House for God—1 Chronicles 17:1–27

¹While King David was living in his house, the Lord gave him peace with all his enemies around him. ²So the king said to the prophet Nathan, “Look, I’m living in a house made of cedar, while the ark of God remains in the tent.” 

³Nathan told the king, “Do everything you have in mind, because the Lord is with you.” 

⁴But that same night the Lord spoke his word to Nathan: ⁵“Say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one who will build me a house to live in? ⁶I haven’t lived in a house from the day I took Israel out of Egypt to this day. Instead, I moved around in a tent, the tent ⸤of meeting⸥. ⁷In all the places I’ve moved with all the Israelites, did I ever ask any of the judges^aof Israel whom I ordered to be shepherds of my people Israel why they didn’t build me a house of cedar?’ 

⁸“Now this is what you will say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture where you followed sheep so that you could be the leader of my people Israel. ⁹I was with you wherever you went, and I destroyed all your enemies in front of you. I will make your name famous like the names of the greatest people on earth. ¹⁰I will make a place for my people Israel and plant them there. They will live in their own place and not be troubled anymore. The wicked will no longer oppress them as they used to do ¹¹ever since I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. So I will give you peace with all your enemies. I, the Lord, tell you that I will make a house for you. 

¹²“ ‘When the time comes for you to lie down in death with your ancestors, I will send one of your descendants, ⸤one⸥ who will come from you. I will establish his kingdom. ¹³He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.