1. And it came to be, when Dawiḏ was dwelling in his house, that Dawiḏ said to Nathan the prophet, “See, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of יהוה is under curtains.”
2. And Nathan said to Dawiḏ, “Do all that is in your heart, for Elohim is with you.”
3. And it came to be that night that the word of Elohim came to Nathan, saying,
4. “Go, and you shall say to My servant Dawiḏ, ‘Thus said יהוה, “You do not build Me a house to dwell in.
5. “For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Yisra’ĕl, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one Dwelling Place to another.
6. “Wherever I have moved about with all Yisra’ĕl, have I ever spoken a word to any of the rulers of Yisra’ĕl, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
7. “And now, say this to My servant Dawiḏ, ‘Thus said יהוה of hosts, “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Yisra’ĕl.
8. “And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth.
9. “And I shall prepare a place for My people Yisra’ĕl and plant them, and they shall dwell in a place of their own and move no more, nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them any more, as at the first,
10. since the time that I commanded rulers to be over My people Yisra’ĕl, and I have humbled all your enemies. And I declared to you that יהוה does build you a house.
11. “And it shall be, when your days are filled to go to be with your fathers, that I shall raise up your seed after you, who is of your sons. And I shall establish his reign.