1. After David settled in his place, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! I am living in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai is under a tent.”
2. Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
3. But that same night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:
4. “Go and tell David My servant, thus says Adonai, ‘You are not to build Me a house in which to dwell.
5. For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel out to this day. I have gone from tent to tent, and from one dwelling to another.
6. Wherever I went throughout all Israel, did I ever speak a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, “Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?”’
7. “So now, say this to My servant David, ‘Thus says Adonai Tzva’ot, I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep, to be prince over My people Israel.
8. I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make your name like the names of the great ones that are in the earth.
9. I wil establish a place for My people Israel, and plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and shall tremble no more. Violent people will no longer wear them down, as they did formerly,
10. from the days I ordered judges to be over My people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.’ “‘Moreover, I declare to you that Adonai will build you a house.
11. It will be that when your days are fulfilled to go with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.