1While David was living in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I live in a house made of cedar, but the ark of Yahweh’s covenant is in a tent.”
2Nathan told David, "Do everything you want to do, because God is with you."
3That same night, God spoke to Nathan and said,
4"Go and tell my servant David that Yahweh says, 'You will not build me a house to live in.'
5"'For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought Israel out of Egypt until now. Instead, I have moved around in tents and tabernacles.
6"'In all the places I have traveled with all of Israel, did I ever say to any of the judges of Israel, whom I appointed to lead my people, "Why haven't you built me a cedar house?"'
7"So tell my servant David that Yahweh of Armies says, 'I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be the ruler over my people Israel.'
8"'I have been with you wherever you went, and I have defeated all your enemies before you. I will make your name famous, like the names of the most important people on earth.'
9"'I will choose a place for my people Israel and settle them there, so they can live in their own land and not be moved again. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did in the past,'
10"'and as they did from the time I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will defeat all your enemies. Also, I tell you that Yahweh will build you a royal family.'
11"'When your life is over and you join your ancestors who have passed away, I will raise up one of your own sons to succeed you, and I will make his kingdom secure.'
12"'He will build me a house, and I will make his throne last forever.'
13"'I will be his father, and he will be my son. My unfailing love will not leave him, as I took it from the one who was before you.'
14"'But I will establish him in my house and in my kingdom forever. His throne will last forever.'"
15Nathan spoke all these words to David, just as he had seen in the vision.
16Then King David went in and sat before Yahweh, and he said, "Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
17This seemed like a small thing to you, God; but you have spoken about the future of your servant's family for a long time to come. You have treated me like a very important man, Yahweh God.
18What more can David say to you about the honor you have given your servant? For you know your servant.
19Yahweh, for the sake of your servant, and because it was your intention, you have done all these great things to make them known.
20Yahweh, there is no one like you, and there is no other God besides you, according to everything we have heard with our own ears.
21What other nation on earth is like your people Israel, whom God went out to rescue and make his own, to make a great and awesome name for himself by driving out nations before your people, whom you rescued from Egypt?
22Because you made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, Yahweh, became their God.
23Now, Yahweh, please make the promise you spoke about your servant and his family stand forever, and do as you have said.
24Let your name be honored and magnified forever, so people will say, 'Yahweh of Armies is the God of Israel, truly a God to Israel.' And let the family of your servant David be secure in your presence.
25For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a family line. That is why your servant has been bold enough to pray to you.
26Now, Yahweh, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
27Now you have been pleased to bless the family of your servant so that it may continue forever in your presence. For you, Yahweh, have blessed it, and it is blessed forever.