2 Samuel 7:2-17

2One day, the king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘I am living in a beautiful palace that is made of cedar wood. But God's Covenant Box still has a tent for its home!’

3Nathan replied to the king, ‘Do what you think is right. The Lord will help you.’

4But that night the Lord said to Nathan,

5‘Go and tell my servant David, “The Lord says this: Do not think that you are the right man to build a house for me to live in.

6From the time that I brought Israel's people out of Egypt until now, I have never lived in a house. While my people moved from place to place, I travelled with them. I lived in a tent as my home.

7I have moved about to many different places with the Israelite people. I chose leaders to take care of Israel's tribes, like shepherds for them. But in all that time, I never said to any of the leaders, ‘You should have built a beautiful house of cedar wood for me.’

8So tell my servant David that the Lord Almighty says this: I took you from the fields where you were taking care of sheep. I took you from there to become the ruler of my people Israel.

9I have been with you everywhere that you have gone. I destroyed all your enemies that were attacking you. Now I will make you famous. Your name will be as great as the names of the earth's greatest men.

10I have chosen a place where my people Israel will live. I have put them in that place, where they can be safe. They will not be afraid of trouble from any enemy. Wicked people will not hurt them any more. That happened in the past,

11from the time that I chose leaders to rule my people Israel. But now I will keep you safe from all your enemies. I, the Lord, say to you, David: I will give you descendants who will rule as kings after you. That will be the royal house that I build for you!

12When you die, people will bury you in the grave of your ancestors. Then I will choose your descendant, one of your own sons, to become king. I will make his kingdom strong.

13He is the man who will build a house for me. People will give honour to my name there. I will cause his descendants to rule as kings for ever.

14I will be his father and he will be my son. When he does something wrong, I will punish him, so that he learns to do what is right. I will punish him in the way that human fathers punish their sons.

15I removed my faithful love from Saul, and I removed him as king before you. But I will always continue to faithfully love your son.

16The kingdom that your descendants rule will continue for ever. Someone from your family will always be king.” ’

17Nathan told David the whole message that God had shown to him.