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

17:2  Then Nathan said to David, "Do all in your heart, for God remains 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 serve as leader over My people Israel.

17:8  "I have dwelled 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 dwell 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 they will not move again; and the wicked will not waste them anymore as formerly,

17:10  even from the day that I commanded judges to serve 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 reach fulfillment that you must go to die with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, one 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 behave as his father and he shall behave as My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who lived before you.

17:14  "But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall last 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 do you consider me, O LORD God, and what do you consider my house that You have brought me this far?

17:17  "This seemed 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, we acknowledge none like You, nor do we regard any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

17:21  "And what one nation in the earth can compare 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 become established forever, and do as You have spoken.

17:24  "Let us establish Your name and magnify it forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts we acknowledge as the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Your servant has become 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, we acknowledge You as 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 has become blessed forever."