1 Chronicles, 17

1. After David had taken up residence in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, "See, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD dwells under tentcloth."

1. It happened, once David had settled into his palace, that David said to the prophet Nathan, 'Here am I living in a cedar-wood palace, while the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is under awnings.'

2. Nathan replied to David, "Do, therefore, whatever you desire, for God is with you."

2. Nathan said to David, 'Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.'

3. But that same night the word of God came to Nathan:

3. But that very night the word of God came to Nathan, as follows:

4. "Go and tell my servant David, Thus says the LORD: It is not you who are to build a house for me to dwell in.

4. 'Go and tell my servant David, "Yahweh says this: You must not build a temple for me to live in.

5. For I have never dwelt in a house, from the time when I led Israel onward, even to this day, but I have been lodging in tent or pavilion

5. I have never lived in a house from the day when I brought Israel out until today, but have kept travelling from tent to tent and from shelter to shelter.

6. as long as I have wandered about with all of Israel. Did I ever say a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to guide my people, such as, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'

6. In all my travels with all Israel, did I say to any of the judges of Israel, whom I had commanded to shepherd my people: Why do you not build me a cedar-wood temple?

7. Therefore, tell my servant David, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you might become ruler over my people Israel.

7. This is what you must say to my servant David: Yahweh Sabaoth says this: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel.

8. I was with you wherever you went, and I cut down all your enemies before you. I will make your name great like that of the greatest on the earth.

8. I have been with you wherever you went; I have got rid of all your enemies for you. I am going to make your fame like that of the greatest men on earth.

9. I will assign a place for my people Israel and I will plant them in it to dwell there henceforth undisturbed; nor shall wicked men ever again oppress them, as they did at first,

9. I am going to provide a place for my people Israel; I shall plant them there and there they will live and never be disturbed again; nor will they be oppressed by the wicked as they were in former times

10. and during all the time when I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that I, the LORD, will build you a house;

10. ever since I instituted judges to govern my people Israel; I shall subdue all your enemies. Yahweh moreover tells you that he will build you a dynasty.

11. so that when your days have been completed and you must join your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you who will be one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

11. And when your days are over and you have gone to join your ancestors, I shall appoint your heir -- who will be one of your sons -- to succeed you, and I shall make his sovereignty secure.

12. He it is who shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

12. He will build a temple for me and I shall make his throne secure for ever.

13. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me, and I will not withdraw my favor from him as I withdrew it from him who preceded you;

13. I shall be his father and he will be my son, and I shall not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor.

14. but I will maintain him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be firmly established forever."

14. I shall set him over my temple and kingdom for ever and his throne will be for ever secure." '

15. All these words and this whole vision Nathan related exactly to David.

15. Nathan related all these words and this whole revelation to David.

16. Then David came in and sat in the LORD'S presence, saying: "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me as far as I have come?

16. King David then went in, sat down in Yahweh's presence and said: 'Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my lineage, that you have led me as far as this?

17. And yet, even this you now consider too little, O God! For you have made a promise regarding your servant's family reaching into the distant future, and you have looked on me as henceforth the most notable of men, O LORD God.

17. Yet, to you, O God, this seemed too little, and now you extend your promises for your servant's family into the distant future, making me see as it were a whole succession of men, and it is Yahweh God himself who raises it up.

18. What more can David say to you? You know your servant.

18. What more can David reply to you for the honour you have given to your servant? You yourself have singled out your servant.

19. O LORD, for your servant's sake and in keeping with your purpose, you have done this great thing.

19. For your servant, and since you were so inclined, you have had the generosity to reveal all this greatness to come.

20. O LORD, there is no one like you and there is no God but you, just as we have always understood.

20. Yahweh, there is no one like you, no God but you alone, as everything that we have heard confirms.

21. "Is there, like your people Israel, whom you redeemed from Egypt, another nation on earth whom a god went to redeem as his people? You won for yourself a name for great and awesome deeds by driving out the nations before your people.

21. Is there another people on earth like your people Israel, whom a god has proceeded to redeem, to make them his people and to make them famous and do for them great and terrible deeds, by driving out nations before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?-

22. You made your people Israel your own forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.

22. for you made your people Israel your own people for ever and you, Yahweh, became their God.

23. Therefore, O LORD, may the promise that you have uttered concerning your servant and his house remain firm forever. Bring about what you have promised,

23. 'Now, Yahweh, may the promise which you have made for your servant and as regards his family hold good for ever, and do as you have said.

24. that your renown as LORD of hosts, God of Israel, may be great and abide forever, while the house of David, your servant, is established in your presence.

24. May it hold good, so your name will be exalted for ever and people will say, "Israel's God is Yahweh Sabaoth; he is God for Israel." Your servant David's dynasty will be secure before you

25. "Because you, O my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house, your servant has made bold to pray before you.

25. since you, my God, have disclosed to your servant that you are going to build him a dynasty. Hence, your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to you.

26. Since you, O LORD, are truly God and have promised this good thing to your servant,

26. Yes, Yahweh, you are God indeed, and you have made this generous promise to your servant.

27. and since you have deigned to bless the house of your servant, so that it will remain forever--since it is you, O LORD, who blessed it, it is blessed forever."

27. What is more, you have deigned to bless your servant's dynasty, so that it may remain for ever before you; and since you, Yahweh, have blessed it, blessed will it be for ever.'