David's plan to build a temple
1ONCE David was established in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD is housed in a tent.”
2Nathan answered, “Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”
3But that same night the word of God came to Nathan:
4“Go and say to David my servant, This is the word of the LORD: It is not you who are to build me a house to dwell in.
5Down to this day I have never dwelt in a house since I brought Israel up from Egypt; I lived in a tent and a tabernacle.
6Wherever I journeyed with Israel, did I ever ask any of the judges whom I appointed shepherds of my people why they had not built me a cedar house?
7“Then say this to my servant David: This is the word of the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pastures and from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel.
8I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have destroyed all the enemies in your path. I shall bring you fame like the fame of the great ones of the earth.
9I shall assign a place for my people Israel; there I shall plant them to dwell in their own land. They will be disturbed no more; never again will the wicked wear them down as they did
10in the past from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I shall subdue all your enemies. “But I shall make you great and the LORD will build up your royal house.
11When your life ends and you go to join your forefathers, I shall set up one of your family, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I shall establish his kingdom.
12It is he who will build me a house, and I shall establish his throne for all time.
13I shall be a father to him, and he will be my son. I shall never withdraw my love from him as I withdrew it from your predecessor.
14But I shall give him a sure place in my house and kingdom for all time, and his throne will endure for ever.”
15Nathan recounted to David all that had been said to him and all that had been revealed.
16Then King David went into the presence of the LORD and, taking his place there, said, “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me thus far?
17It was a small thing in your sight, God, to have planned for your servant's house in days long past, and now you look on me as a man already embarked on a high career, LORD God.
18What more can David say to you of the honour you have done your servant? You yourself know your servant.
19For the sake of your servant, LORD, in accordance with your purpose, you have done this great thing and revealed all the great things to come.
20“There is none like you, LORD; there is no God but you, as everything we have heard bears witness.
21And your people Israel, to whom can they be compared? Is there any other nation on earth whom you, God, have set out to redeem from slavery to be your people? You have won renown for yourself by great and awesome deeds, driving out nations to make way for your people whom you redeemed from Egypt.
22You have made your people Israel your own for ever, and you, LORD, have become their God.
23“But now, LORD, let what you have promised for your servant and his house stand fast for all time; make good what you have promised.
24Let it stand fast, that your fame may be great for evermore, and let people say, ‘The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God’; and may the house of your servant David be established before you.
25You, my God, have shown me your purpose, to build up your servant's house; therefore I have been able to pray before you.
26LORD, you are God, and you have made these noble promises to your servant.
27Be pleased now to bless your servant's house, so that it may continue always before you; you it is who have blessed it, and it shall be blessed for ever.”