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The Lord’s Covenant with David

¹ When the king had settled into his palace^(C1) and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, ² the king said to the prophet Nathan,^(C1) “Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.”^(C2)

³ So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your mind, for the Lord is with you.”

⁴ But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: ⁵ “Go to my servant David and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you to build me a house to dwell in?^{(C1) 6} From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as my dwelling.^{(C1) 7} In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’

⁸ “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.^{(C1) 9} I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name^(C1) for you like that of the greatest on the earth.^{(C2) 10} I will designate a place^(C1) for my people Israel and plant them,^(C2) so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done ¹¹ ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel.^(C1) I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you. ¹² When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.^{(C1) 13} He is the one who will build a house for my name,^(C1) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.^{(C2) 14} I will be his father, and he will be my son.^(C1) When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. ¹⁵ But my faithful love will never leave him^(C1) as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.^{(C2) 16} Your house and kingdom will endure before me^(F1) forever,^(C1) and your throne will be established forever.’”^(C2)

¹⁷ Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

¹⁸ Then King David went in,^(C1) sat in the Lord’s presence, and said,

Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far? ¹⁹ What you have done so far^(F1) was a little thing to you, Lord God, for you have also spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. And this is a revelation^(F2) for mankind, Lord God. ²⁰ What more can David say to you? You know your servant,^(C1) Lord God. ²¹ Because of your word and according to your will, you have revealed all these great things to your servant.

²² This is why you are great,^(C1) Lord God. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you,^(C2) as all we have heard confirms. ²³ And who is like your people Israel? God came to one nation on earth in order to redeem a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to perform for them^(F1) great and awesome acts,^(F2) driving out nations and their gods before your people you redeemed for yourself from Egypt.^{(C1) 24} You established your people Israel to be your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.^(C1)

²⁵ Now, Lord God, fulfill the promise forever that you have made to your servant and his house. Do as you have promised, ²⁶ so that your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, “The Lord of Armies is God over Israel.” The house of your servant David^(C1) will be established before you ²⁷ since you, Lord of Armies, God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant when you said, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you. ²⁸ Lord God, you are God; your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. ²⁹ Now, please bless your servant’s house so that it will continue before you forever. For you, Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing your servant’s house will be blessed forever.^(C1)