Dual Panel1Once the king was established in his palace and the LORD had given him security from his enemies on all sides,
2he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the Ark of God is housed in a tent.”
3Nathan answered, “Do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”
4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:
5“Go and say to David my servant, This is the word of the LORD: Are you to build me a house to dwell in?
6Down to this day I have never dwelt in a house since I brought Israel up from Egypt; I lived in a tent and a tabernacle.
7Wherever I journeyed with Israel, did I ever ask any of the judges whom I appointed shepherds of my people Israel why they had not built me a cedar house?
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.
9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have destroyed all the enemies in your path. I shall bring you fame like the fame of the great ones of the earth.
10I shall assign a place for my people Israel; there I shall plant them to dwell in their own land. They will be disturbed no more; never again will the wicked oppress them as they did in the past,
11from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I shall give you peace from all your enemies. “The LORD has told you that he would build up your royal house.
12When your life ends and you rest with your forefathers, I shall set up one of your family, one of your own children, to succeed you, and I shall establish his kingdom.
13It is he who is to build a house in honour of my name, and I shall establish his royal throne for all time.
14I shall be a father to him, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I shall punish him as any father might, and not spare the rod.
15But my love will never be withdrawn from him as I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed from your path.
16Your family and your kingdom will be established for ever in my sight; your throne will endure for all time.”
17Nathan recounted to David all that had been said to him and all that had been revealed.
18Then King David went into the presence of the LORD and, taking his place there, said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my family, that you have brought me thus far?
19It was a small thing in your sight, Lord GOD, to have planned for your servant's house in days long past.
20What more can I say? Lord GOD, you yourself know your servant David.
21For the sake of your promise and in accordance with your purpose you have done all this great thing to reveal it to your servant.
22“Lord GOD, you are great. There is none like you; there is no God but you, as everything we have heard bears witness.
23And your people Israel, to whom can they be compared? Is there any other nation on earth whom you, God, have set out to redeem from slavery to be your people? You have won renown for yourself by great and awesome deeds, driving out other nations and their gods to make way for your people whom you redeemed from Egypt.
24You have established your people Israel as your own for ever, and you, LORD, have become their God.
25“Now, LORD God, perform for all time what you have promised for your servant and his house; make good what you have promised.
26May your fame be great for evermore, and let people say, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of your servant David be established before you.
27LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, you have shown me your purpose, in saying to your servant, ‘I shall build up your house’; and therefore I have made bold to offer this prayer to you.
28Now, Lord GOD, you are God and your promises will come true; you have made these noble promises to your servant.
29Be pleased now to bless your servant's house so that it may continue always before you; you, Lord GOD, have promised, and may your blessing rest on your servant's house for ever.”