1. And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
2. He said to Nathan the prophet: Dost thou see that I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God is lodged within skins?
3. And Nathan said to the king: Go, do all that is in thy heart: because the Lord is with thee.
4. But it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
5. Go, and say to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord: Shalt thou build me a house to dwell in?
6. Whereas I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt even to this day: but have walked in a tabernacle, and in a tent.
7. In all the places that I have gone through with all the children of Israel, did ever I speak a word to any one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?
8. And now thus shalt thou speak to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I took thee out of the pastures from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel:
9. And I have been with thee wheresoever thou hast walked, and have slain all thy enemies from before thy face: and I have made thee a great man, like unto the name of the great ones that are on the earth.