1. And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest all around from all his enemies;
2. That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.
3. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you.
4. And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
5. Go and tell my servant David, Thus says the LORD, Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in?
6. For 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 moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7. In all the places in which I have moved about with all the children of Israel spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, Why build you not me a house of cedar?
8. Now therefore so shall you say unto my servant David, Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: