7 ¹ vv1-29: cp 1Chr. 17.1-27 As soon as the king was established in his house and the LORD had given him security from his enemies on all sides, 7 ² he said to Nathan the prophet, 'Here I live in a house of cedar, while the Ark of God is housed in curtains.' 7 ³ Nathan answered the king, 'Very well, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.'

7 ⁴ But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 7 ⁵ 'Go and say to David my servant, "This is the word of the LORD: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? 7 ⁶ Down to this day I have never dwelt in a house since I brought lsrael up from Egypt; I made my journey in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 ⁷ Wherever I journeyed with Israel, did I ever ask any of the judges prob. rdg, cp 1Chr. 17.6; Heb tribes whom I appointed shepherds of my people Israel why they had not built me a house of cedar?" 7 ⁸ Then say this to my servant David: "This is the word of the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pastures, and from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel. 7 ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have destroyed all the enemies in your path. I will make you a great name among the great ones of the earth. 7 ¹⁰ I will assign a place for my people Israel; there I will plant them, and they shall dwell in their own land. They shall be disturbed no more, never again shall wicked men oppress them as they did in the past, 7 ¹¹ ever since the time when I appointed judges over Israel my people; and I will give you peace from all your enemies. The LORD has told you that he would build up your royal house. 7 ¹² When your life ends. and you rest with your forefathers, I will set up one of your family, one of your own children, to succeed you and I will establish his kingdom. 7 ¹³ It is he shall build a house in honour of my name, and I will establish his royal throne for ever. 7 ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him as any father might, and not spare the rod. 7 ¹⁵ My love will never be withdrawn from him as I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed from your path. 7 ¹⁶ Your family shall be established and your kingdom shall stand for all time in my sight, and your throne shall be established for ever." '

7 ¹⁷ Nathan recounted to David all that had been said to him and all that had been revealed.