2 Samuel, 7

1. And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

1. When the king had settled in his palace and Yahweh had rid him of all his surrounding enemies,

2. That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

2. he said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I live in a house of cedar but the ark of God is housed in a tent."

3. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that [is] in thine heart; for the LORD [is] with thee.

3. Nathan replied, "Do as it seems fit to you for Yahweh is with you."

4. And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,

4. But that very night, Yahweh's word came to Nathan,

5. Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

5. "Go and tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh says: Are you able to build a house for me to live in?

6. Whereas I have not dwelt in [any] house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

6. I have not dwelt in a house since I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day, but I went about with a tent for shelter.

7. In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

7. As long as I walked with the Israelites, did I say anything to the chiefs of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel? Did I say: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?

8. Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

8. Now you will tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh of hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the sheep, to make you commander of my people Israel.

9. And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great [men] that [are] in the earth.

9. I have been with you wherever you went, cutting down all your enemies before you. Now I will make your name great as the name of the great ones on earth.

10. Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

10. I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them that they may live there in peace. They shall no longer be harassed, nor shall wicked men oppress them as be-fore.

11. And as since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

11. From the time when I appointed judges over my people Israel it is only to you that I have given rest from all your enemies. Yahweh also tells you that he will build you a house.

12. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

12. When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your son after you, the one born of you and I will make his reign secure.

13. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

13. He shall build a house for my name and I will firmly establish his kingship forever.

14. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

14. I will be a father to him and he shall be my son. If he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod, as men do.

15. But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took [it] from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

15. But I will not withdraw my kindness from him as I did from Saul when I removed him out of your way.

16. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

16. Your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall be forever firm."

17. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

17. Nathan repeated these words and related this vision to David.

18. Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who [am] I, O Lord GOD? and what [is] my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

18. Then King David went in, sat before Yahweh and said, "Who am I, O Yahweh God, and who is my family that you have brought me so far?

19. And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And [is] this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

19. Yet this was not enough for you, O Yahweh God, for you have also spoken of your servant's house for a long time to come. Is this the way men act, O Yahweh God?

20. And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

20. What more can David say to you? You know your servant, O Yahweh God!

21. For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know [them].

21. You fulfill your promise and carry out your plan, as you do now in bringing about all these great things and revealing them to your servant.

22. Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for [there is] none like thee, neither [is there any] God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

22. Therefore you are great, O Yahweh God, for there is no one like you, nor is there a God other than you from all that we ourselves have heard.

23. And what one nation in the earth [is] like thy people, [even] like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, [from] the nations and their gods?

23. Is there on earth another nation like your people Israel, whom God has come to redeem, and to make his people? Indeed you made them famous when you did, for your glory, great and awesome things, rescuing them out of Egypt, from their people and their gods.

24. For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel [to be] a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

24. You have set apart your people Israel to become your people forever; and you, Yahweh, have become their God.

25. And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish [it] for ever, and do as thou hast said.

25. Now, O Yahweh God, keep forever the promise you made and have now revealed to me regarding myself and my family,

26. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts [is] the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

26. that your name may be honored forever and people may say, 'Yahweh of hosts is God over Israel.' The house of your servant David will be secure before you

27. For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

27. because you, O Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, have made it known to your servant and have said to him: 'Your family will last forever.' This is why I have dared to address this prayer to you.

28. And now, O Lord GOD, thou [art] that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

28. So now, O Yahweh God, since you are the faithful God, and have promised me this good thing,

29. Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken [it]: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

29. please bless my descendants, that they may continue forever before you. For you, O Yahweh God, have spoken and, with your blessing, my family shall be blessed forever."