Our Father's Covenant with David
17 1 When David was settled in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of our Father sits under tent curtains."
2 Nathan replied to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for our Father is with you."
3 But that night the word of our Father came to Nathan: 4 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what your Father says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.'" 5 For I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up until this day; I have moved from tent to tent, from one dwelling to another. 6 In all my travels with Israel, did I ever say a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'
7 "Now then, say this to my servant David: 'This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.'" 8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have struck down all your enemies before you. Now I will make your name like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live in a home of their own and be disturbed no more. Wicked men will no longer wear them down as they did at first, 10 from the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that your Father will build you a house.
11 When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his Father, and he will be my son. I will never take my steadfast love away from him, as I took it from the one who was before you. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.
15 Nathan reported to David all these words and this entire vision.
David Sits Before Our Father in Wonder
16 Then King David went in and sat before our Father, and he said: "Who am I, my Father, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were a small thing in your eyes, my Father, you have spoken about the future of your servant's house, and you have looked on me as though I were the greatest of men, my Father. 18 What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. 19 My Father, for the sake of your servant and according to your own heart, you have done all these great things, making known all these great promises.
20 My Father, there is none like you, and there is no Father but you, according to everything we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom our Father went out to redeem as a people for himself—to make a name for yourself by great and awesome deeds, driving out nations before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, my Father, became their Father.
23 And now, my Father, let the word you have spoken about your servant and his house be confirmed forever; do as you have promised. 24 Let it stand, so that your name will be magnified forever, when it is said, 'The Father of heaven's armies is our Father over Israel.' And may the house of your servant David be established before you. 25 For you, my Father, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. That is why your servant has found the courage to pray before you. 26 And now, my Father, you are our Father, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27 So now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue before you forever; for you, my Father, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever."