The Lord Establishes a Covenant with David

7:1 The king settled into his palace,1 for the Lord gave him relief2 from all his enemies on all sides.3 7:2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent.” 7:3 Nathan replied to the king, “You should go4 and do whatever you have in mind,5 for the Lord is with you.” 7:4 That night the Lord told Nathan,6 7:5 “Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in? 7:6 I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent.7 7:7 Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say8 to any of the leaders9 whom I appointed to care for10 my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?” ’

7:8 “So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd11 to make you leader of my people Israel. 7:9 I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated12 all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.13 7:10 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle14 them there; they will live there and not be disturbed15 any more. Violent men16 will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 7:11 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief17 from all your enemies. The Lord declares18 to you that he himself19 will build a dynastic house20 for you. 7:12 When the time comes for you to die,21 I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you,22 and I will establish his kingdom. 7:13 He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent.23 7:14 I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings. 7:15 But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 7:16 Your house and your kingdom will stand before me24 permanently; your dynasty25 will be permanent.’ ” 7:17 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.26