7 When the king was settled in his own house and Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet: “Here I am living in a house of cedars while the Ark of the true Al {pre. Ahl} sits in the midst of tent cloths.” 3 Nathan replied to the king: “Go and do whatever is in your heart, for Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} is with you.”
4 On that very night, the word of Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} came to Nathan, saying: 5 “Go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} says: “Should you build me a house to dwell in? 6 For I have not dwelled in a house from the day I brought the people of Isra'Al out of Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 During all the time that I went with all the Isra'Al·ites, did I ever say one word to any of the tribal leaders of Isra'Al whom I appointed to shepherd my people Isra'Al, saying, ‘Why did you not build a house of cedars for me?’”’ 8 Now say this to my servant David, ‘This is what Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} of armies says: “I took you from the pastures, from following the flock, to become a leader over my people Isra'Al. 9 And I will be with you wherever you go, and I will do away with all your enemies from before you; and I will make a great name for you like the name of the great men of the earth. 10 I will appoint a place for my people Isra'Al and settle them, and they will live there and not be disturbed anymore; and wicked men will not oppress them again as they did in the past, 11 from the day that I appointed judges over my people Isra'Al. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘“Also, Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} has told you that Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} will make a house for you. 12 When your days come to an end and you are laid to rest with your forefathers, then I will raise up your offspring after you, your own son, and I will firmly establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will firmly establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will become his father, and he will become my son. When he does wrong, I will reprove him with the rod of men and with the strokes of the sons of men. 15 My loyal love will not be taken away from him the way I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will be secure forever before you; your throne will be firmly established forever.”’”
17 Nathan told David all these words and this entire vision.
18 At that King David came in and sat down before Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} and said: “Who am I, O Master Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}? And what is my house that you have brought me this far? 19 As if this were not enough, O Master Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}, you also speak about the house of your servant down to a distant future time; and this is instruction for all mankind, O Master Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}. 20 What more can your servant David say to you when you know me so well, O Master Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}? 21 For the sake of your word and in agreement with your heart you have done all these great things and have revealed them to your servant. 22 That is why you are truly great, O Master Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}. There is no one like you, and there is no Al {pre. Ahl} except you; everything we have heard with our ears confirms this. 23 And what other nation on earth is like your people Isra'Al? Al {pre. Ahl} went and redeemed them as his people, making a name for himself by doing great and awe-inspiring things for them. You drove out the nations and their gods in behalf of your people, whom you redeemed to yourself from Egypt. 24 You established your people Isra'Al as your own people for all time; and you, O Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}, have become their Al {pre. Ahl}.
25 “Now, O Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} Al {pre. Ahl}, carry out the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house for all time, and may you do just as you have promised. 26 May your name be exalted forever, so that people may say, ‘Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} of armies is Al {pre. Ahl} over Isra'Al,’ and may the house of your servant David be firmly established before you. 27 For you, Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} of armies, the Al {pre. Ahl} of Isra'Al, have made a revelation to your servant by saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ That is why your servant has the courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Master Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}, you are the true Al {pre. Ahl}, and your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 So may it please you to bless the house of your servant, and may it continue forever before you; for you, O Master Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}, have promised, and with your blessing may the house of your servant be blessed forever.”