17:1 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.
17:2 Nathan replied to David, Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.
17:3 That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:
17:4 Go and tell my servant David, `This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.
17:5 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling-place to another.
17:6 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders [Traditionally judges also in verse 10] whom I commanded to shepherd my people, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’
17:7 Now then, tell my servant David, `This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.
17:8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth.
17:9 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them any more, as they did at the beginning
17:10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. `I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you:
17:11 When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
17:12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne for ever.
17:13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor.
17:14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom for ever his throne will be established for ever.’
17:15 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
17:16 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
17:17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God.
17:18 What more can David say to you for honouring your servant? For you know your servant,
17:19 LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.
17:20 There is no-one like you, O LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
17:21 And who is like your people Israel the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed f
17:22 You made your people Israel your very own for ever, and you, O LORD, have become their God.
17:23 And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established for ever. Do as you promised,
17:24 so that it will be established and that your name will be great for ever. Then men will say, `The LORD Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.
17:25 You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you.
17:26 LORD, you are God! You have promised these good things to your servant.
17:27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever in your sight for you, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed for ever.