David Plans to Build a Temple

1 aNow 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 aNathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in ba house of cedar, but the ark of God cdwells within tent curtains.”

3 Nathan said to the king, “aGo, 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, ‘Thus says the Lord, “aAre you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?

6 “For aI have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about bin a tent, even in a 1tabernacle.

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

God’s Covenant with David

8 “Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “aI took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, bto be ruler over My people Israel.

9 “aI have been with you wherever you have gone and bhave cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.

10 “I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and awill plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, bnor will the 1wicked afflict them any more as formerly,

11 even afrom the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and bI will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that cthe Lord will make a house for you.

12 “aWhen your days are complete and you blie down with your fathers, cI will raise up your 1descendant after you, who will come forth from 2you, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 “aHe shall build a house for My name, and bI will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 “aI will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; bwhen he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,

15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, aas I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

16 “aYour house and your kingdom shall endure before 1Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.