17 ¹ Now when David dwelt in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is under a tent." 17 ² And Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."

17 ³ But that same night the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, 17 ⁴ "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says Yahweh: You shall not build me a house to dwell in. 17 ⁵ For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I led up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. 17 ⁶ In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" ' 17 ⁷ Now therefore thus shall you say to my servant David, 'Thus says Yahweh of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel; 17 ⁸ and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 17 ⁹ And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall waste them no more, as formally, 17 ¹⁰ from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I declare to you that Yahweh will build you a house. 17 ¹¹ When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 17 ¹² He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne for ever. 17 ¹³ I will be his father, and he shall be my son; I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 17 ¹⁴ but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom for ever and his throne shall be established for ever.' " 17 ¹⁵ In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.