1 When David was living in his house, he said to the prophet Nathan, “I’m living in a house made of cedar, while the ark of the Lord’s promise is inside a tent.”
2 Nathan told David, “Do everything you have in mind, because God is with you.”
3 But that same night God spoke his word to Nathan:
4 “Say to David, my servant, ‘This is what the Lord says: You must not build this house for me to live in.
5 I haven’t lived in a house from the day I brought Israel out ⌊of Egypt⌋ to this day, but I’ve gone from tent site to tent site, moving the tent ⌊of meeting⌋ from one location ⌊to another⌋.
6 In all the places I’ve moved with all Israel, did I ever ask any of the judges of Israel whom I ordered to be shepherds of my people why they didn’t build me a house of cedar?’
7 “Now this is what you will say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture where you followed sheep so that you could be the leader of my people Israel.