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.
12 “He does build Me a house, and I shall establish his throne forever.
13 “I am to be his Father, and he is to be My son. And My kindness I do not turn away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.
14 “And I shall establish him in My house and in My reign forever, and let his throne be established forever.” ’ ”
15 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to Dawiḏ.
16 And Sovereign Dawiḏ came in and sat before יהוה, and said, “Who am I, O יהוה Elohim? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
17 “And this was a small matter in Your eyes, O Elohim, but You have spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have looked upon me as though I were an exalted man, O יהוה Elohim.
18 “What more could Dawiḏ add to You for the esteem of Your servant? For You know Your servant.
19 “O יהוה, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, in making known all these great matters.
20 “O יהוה, there is none like You, nor is there any Elohim besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21 “And who is like Your people Yisra’ĕl, the one nation on the earth whom Elohim went to redeem for Himself as a people; to make for Yourself a great and awesome Name, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Mitsrayim?
22 “For You appointed Your people Yisra’ĕl to be Your own people forever. And You, יהוה, have become their Elohim.
23 “And now, O יהוה, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, let it stand fast forever, and do as You have said.
24 “So let it stand fast, and Your Name be great forever, saying, ‘יהוה of hosts, Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, is Elohim to Yisra’ĕl. And let the house of Your servant Dawiḏ be established before You.’
25 “For You, O my Elohim, have revealed to Your servant to build a house for him. Therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You.
26 “And now, יהוה, You are Elohim, and have promised this goodness to Your servant.
27 “And now, You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant to be before You forever. For You have blessed it, O יהוה, and it is blessed forever.”