171 And it came about, when David dwelt in his house , that David said to Nathan the prophet , "Behold , I am dwelling in a house of cedar , but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under curtains ." 2 Then Nathan said to David , "Do all that is in your heart , for God is with you." 3 It came about the same night that the word of God came to Nathan , saying , 4 "Go and tell David My servant , 'Thus says the Lord , " You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in; 5 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day , but I have gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another. 6 "In all places where I have walked with all Israel , have I spoken a word with any of the judges of Israel , whom I commanded to shepherd My people , saying , 'Why have you not built for Me a house of cedar ?' "' 7 "Now , therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David , 'Thus says the Lord of hosts , "I took you from the pasture , from following the sheep , to be leader over My people Israel . 8 "I have been with you wherever e you have gone , and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth . 9 "I will appoint a place for My people Israel , and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and not be moved again ; and the wicked e will not waste them anymore as formerly , 10 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel . And I will subdue all your enemies . Moreover, I tell you that the Lord will build a house for you. 11 "When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers , that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons ; and I will establish his kingdom . 12 "He shall build for Me a house , and I will establish his throne forever e . 13 " I will be his father and he shall be My son ; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. 14 "But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever e , and his throne shall be established forever e .""' 15 According to all these words and according to all this vision , so Nathan spoke to David .
16 Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord and said , " Who am I, O Lord God , and what is my house that You have brought me this far ? 17 "This was a small thing in Your eyes , O God ; but You have spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come , and have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high degree , O Lord God . 18 "What more can David still say to You concerning the honor bestowed on Your servant ? For You know Your servant . 19 "O Lord , for Your servant's sake , and according to Your own heart , You have wrought all this greatness , to make known all these great things . 20 "O Lord , there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears . 21 "And what one nation in the earth is like Your people Israel , whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people , to make You a name by great and terrible things , in driving out nations from before Your people , whom You redeemed out of Egypt ? 22 " For Your people Israel You made Your own people forever e , and You, O Lord , became their God . 23 "Now , O Lord , let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever e , and do as You have spoken . 24 "Let Your name be established and magnified forever e , saying , 'The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel , even a God to Israel ; and the house of David Your servant is established before You.' 25 "For You, O my God , have revealed e to Your servant that You will build for him a house ; therefore e Your servant has found courage to pray before You. 26 "Now , O Lord , You are God , and have promised this good thing to Your servant . 27 "And now it has pleased You to bless the house of Your servant , that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord , have blessed , and it is blessed forever ."
