17:1  And it came about, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under curtains."

17:2  Then Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."

17:3  It came about the same night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

17:4  "Go and tell David My servant, `Thus says the LORD, "You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in;

17:5  for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from {one} dwelling place {to another.}

17:6  "In all places where I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, `Why have you not built for Me a house of cedar?""

17:7  "Now, therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, `Thus says the LORD of hosts, "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel.

17:8  "I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

17:9  "I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and not be moved again; and the wicked will not waste them anymore as formerly,

17:10  even from the day that I commanded judges {to be} over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you.

17:11  "When your days are fulfilled that you must go {to be} with your fathers, that I will set up {one of} your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

17:12  "He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

17:13  "I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.

17:14  "But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.'""

17:15  According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

17:16  Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?

17:17  "This was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

17:18  "What more can David still {say} to You concerning the honor {bestowed} on Your servant? For You know Your servant.

17:19  "O LORD, for Your servant's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

17:20  "O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

17:21  "And what one nation in the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself {as} a people, to make You a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed out of Egypt?

17:22  "For Your people Israel You made Your own people forever, and You, O LORD, became their God.

17:23  "Now, O LORD, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as You have spoken.

17:24  "Let Your name be established and magnified forever, saying, `The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, {even} a God to Israel; and the house of David Your servant is established before You.'

17:25  "For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build for him a house; therefore Your servant has found {courage} to pray before You.

17:26  "Now, O LORD, You are God, and have promised this good thing to Your servant.

17:27  "And now it has pleased You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O LORD, have blessed, and it is blessed forever."