1 Chronicles
Chapter 17

1

After David had taken up residence in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, "See, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD dwells under tentcloth."

2

Nathan replied to David, "Do, therefore, whatever you desire, for God is with you."

3

But that same night the word of God came to Nathan:

4

"Go and tell my servant David, Thus says the LORD: It is not you who are to build a house for me to dwell in.

5

For I have never dwelt in a house, from the time when I led Israel onward, even to this day, but I have been lodging in tent or pavilion

6

as long as I have wandered about with all of Israel. Did I ever say a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to guide my people, such as, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'

7

Therefore, tell my servant David, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you might become ruler over my people Israel.

8

I was with you wherever you went, and I cut down all your enemies before you. I will make your name great like that of the greatest on the earth.

9

I will assign a place for my people Israel and I will plant them in it to dwell there henceforth undisturbed; nor shall wicked men ever again oppress them, as they did at first,

10

and during all the time when I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that I, the LORD, will build you a house;

11

so that when your days have been completed and you must join your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you who will be one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

12

He it is who shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

13

I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me, and I will not withdraw my favor from him as I withdrew it from him who preceded you;

14

but I will maintain him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be firmly established forever."

15

All these words and this whole vision Nathan related exactly to David.

16

Then David came in and sat in the LORD'S presence, saying: "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me as far as I have come?

17

And yet, even this you now consider too little, O God! For you have made a promise regarding your servant's family reaching into the distant future, and you have looked on me as henceforth the most notable of men, O LORD God.

18

What more can David say to you? You know your servant.

19

O LORD, for your servant's sake and in keeping with your purpose, you have done this great thing.

20

O LORD, there is no one like you and there is no God but you, just as we have always understood.

21

"Is there, like your people Israel, whom you redeemed from Egypt, another nation on earth whom a god went to redeem as his people? You won for yourself a name for great and awesome deeds by driving out the nations before your people.

22

You made your people Israel your own forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.

23

Therefore, O LORD, may the promise that you have uttered concerning your servant and his house remain firm forever. Bring about what you have promised,

24

that your renown as LORD of hosts, God of Israel, may be great and abide forever, while the house of David, your servant, is established in your presence.

25

"Because you, O my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house, your servant has made bold to pray before you.

26

Since you, O LORD, are truly God and have promised this good thing to your servant,

27

and since you have deigned to bless the house of your servant, so that it will remain forever--since it is you, O LORD, who blessed it, it is blessed forever."

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