2 Samuel 7

7 ¹ When the king had settled in his house, and our Father had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, ² the king told Nathan the prophet, "Look now, I live in a house of cedar, but our Father's ark stays in a tent."

³ Nathan told the king, "Go, do all that's in your heart, for our Father is with you."

⁴ But that same night the word of our Father came to Nathan:

⁵ "Go tell my servant David: This is what your Father says: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? ⁶ I have not lived in a house since I brought Israel up from Egypt until now, but have moved from place to place with a tent for my dwelling. ⁷ Wherever I moved with all Israel, did I ever say a word to any leader I commanded to shepherd my people, 'Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?' ⁸ Now tell my servant David: This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to rule my people Israel. ⁹ I was with you wherever you went, and cut off all your enemies before you. I will make your name great, like the greatest on earth. ¹⁰ I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them there to live undisturbed in their own place. Violent men will no longer oppress them as before. ¹¹ from when I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. Your Father also declares to you that he himself will make you a house. ¹² When your days end and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who comes from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He will build a house for my name, and I will establish his kingdom's throne forever. ¹⁴ I will be his Father, and he will be my son. When he sins, I will discipline him with a human rod, with blows human hands deal, ¹⁵ But my covenant love will not leave him, as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever."

¹⁷ Nathan reported to David all these words and this entire vision.

David Gives Thanks Before His Father

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before our Father, and said: "Who am I, Sovereign Father, and what is my house, that you brought me this far? ¹⁹ As if this were a small thing in your eyes, Sovereign Father, you have also spoken of your servant's house far into the future. Is this your way with all humanity, Sovereign Father? ²⁰ What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Father. ²¹ For your word's sake and your own heart, you have done all this greatness, making it known to your servant. ²² So you are great, Sovereign Father. There is none like you, and no God but you, from all we have heard with our own ears. ²³ Who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth our Father went to redeem as a people for himself, making a name for himself, doing great and awesome things—driving out nations and their gods before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt? ²⁴ You made your people Israel your own forever, and you, our Father, became their Father.

²⁵ And now, our Father, keep forever the word you spoke about your servant and his house, and do as you promised. ²⁶ Your name will be great forever, and people will say, 'The Father of heaven's armies is God over Israel.' The house of your servant David will stand firm before you. ²⁷ For you, Father of heaven's armies, God of Israel, revealed this to your servant: 'I will build you a house.' So your servant found courage to pray this prayer to you.

²⁸ And now, Sovereign Father, you are God, your words are true, and you promised this good thing to your servant. ²⁹ So now, please bless your servant's house, that it may last forever before you. For you, Sovereign Father, have spoken, and with your blessing your servant's house will be blessed forever."