Chapter 7

¹And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord AO had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

²That the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains."

³And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart; for the Lord AO is with you."

⁴And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord AO came to Nathan, saying,

⁵"Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus saith the Lord AO, Shall you build Me a house for Me to dwell in?

⁶Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

⁷In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?"

⁸Now therefore tell My servant David, Thus said the Lord of hosts Adonai AO, "I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel:

⁹And I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

¹⁰Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more✦; neither shall the children of wickedness2 afflict them any more, as beforetime,

¹¹And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also AO tells you that He you will make you Him a house.

¹²And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his your kingdom.

¹³He You shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his your kingdom for ever.

¹⁴I will be his your father, and he you shall be My son. If he you commit iniquity, I will chasten him you with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

¹⁵But My mercy shall not depart away from him you, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.

¹⁶And your house and your kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: your throne shall be established for ever."

¹⁷According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

¹⁸Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord AO, and he said, "Who am I, O Lord God Adonai AO? and what is my house, that You have brought me hitherto?

¹⁹And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God Adonai AO; but You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God Adonai AO?

²⁰And what can David say more to You? for You, Lord God Adonai AO, know your servant.

²¹For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, have You done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.

²²Wherefore You are great, O Lord God Adonai AO: for there is none like You, neither is there any God beside You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

²³And what one nation in the earth is like Your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to Himself, and to make Him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for Your land, before Your people, which You redeemed to You from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

²⁴For You have confirmed to Yourself Your people Israel to be a people to You for ever: and You, Adonai, are become their God.

²⁵And now, O Lord God Adonai AO, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as You have said.

²⁶And let Your name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts Adonai AO is the God over Israel: and let the house of Your servant David be established before You.

²⁷For thou, O Lord of hosts Adonai AO, God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant, saying, 'I will build You a house': therefore has Your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto You.

²⁸And now, O Lord God Adonai AO, You are that God, and Your words be true, and You have promised this goodness unto Your servant:

²⁹Therefore now let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue for ever before You: for You, O Lord God Adonai AO, have spoken it: and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed for ever.