2 Samuel 7:12–29

¹²Some day your life will come to an end. You will join the members of your family who have already died. Then I will make one of your own sons the next king after you. And I will make his kingdom secure. ¹³He is the one who will build a house where I will put my Name.

“ ‘ “I will set up the throne of his kingdom. It will last forever. ¹⁴I will be his father. And he will be my son. When he does what is wrong, I will use other men to beat him with rods and whips. ¹⁵I took my love away from Saul. I removed him from being king. You were there when I did it. But I will never take my love away from your son.

¹⁶“ ‘ “Your royal house and your kingdom will last forever in my sight. Your throne will last forever.” ’ ”

¹⁷Nathan reported to David all of the words that the Lord had spoken to him.

David Prays to the Lord

¹⁸Then King David went into the holy tent. He sat down in front of the Lord. He said,

“Lord and King, who am I? My family isn’t important. So why have you brought me this far? ¹⁹I would have thought that you had already done more than enough for me. But now, Lord and King, you have also spoken about what is going to happen to my royal house in days to come. Lord and King, is this your usual way of dealing with people?

²⁰“What more can I say to you? Lord and King, you know all about me. ²¹You have done a wonderful thing. You have made it known to me. You have done it because that’s what you said you would do. It’s exactly what you wanted to do for me.

²²“Lord and King, how great you are! There isn’t anyone like you. There isn’t any God but you. We have heard about it with our own ears.

²³“Who is like your people Israel? God, we are the one nation on earth you have saved. You have set us free for yourself. Your name has become famous. You have done great and wonderful things. You have driven out nations and their gods to make room for your people. You saved us when you set us free from Egypt. ²⁴You made Israel your very own people forever. Lord, you have become our God.

²⁵“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made to me and my royal house. Do exactly as you promised. ²⁶Then your name will be honored forever. People will say, ‘The Lord rules over all. He is God over Israel.’ My royal house will be made secure in your sight.

²⁷“Lord who rules over all, you are the God of Israel. Here’s what you have shown me. You told me, ‘I will build you a royal house.’ So I can boldly offer this prayer to you. ²⁸Lord and King, you are God! Your words can be trusted. You have promised many good things to me.

²⁹“Now please bless my royal house. Then it will continue forever in your sight. Lord and King, you have spoken. Because you have given my royal house your blessing, it will be blessed forever.”