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Chapter 17
1 Now when David was dwelling in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet: Behold I dwell in a house of cedar: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under skins.
2 And Nathan said to David: Do all that is in your heart: for God is with you.
3 Now that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:
4 Go, and speak to David my servant: Thus said the Lord: you shall not build me a house to dwell in.
5 For I have not remained in a house from the time that I brought up Israel, to this day: but I have been always changing places in a tabernacle, and in a tent,
6 Abiding with all Israel. Did I ever speak to any one, of all the judges of Israel, whom I charged to feed my people, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?
7 Now therefore thus shall you say to my servant David: Thus said the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pastures, from following the flock, that you should be ruler of my people Israel.
8 And I have been with you whithersoever you have gone: and have slain all your enemies before you, and have made you a name like that of one of the great ones that are renowned in the earth.
9 And I have given a place to my people Israel: they shall be planted, and shall dwell therein, and shall be moved no more, neither shall the children of iniquity waste them, as at the beginning,
10 Since the days that I gave judges to my people Israel, and have humbled all your enemies. And I declare to you, that the Lord will build you a house.
11 And when you shall have ended your days to go to your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, which shall be of your sons: and I will establish his kingdom.
12 He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever.
13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before you.
14 But I will settle him in my house, and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be most firm for ever.
15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.
16 And king David came and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you should give such things to me?
17 But even this has seemed little in your sight, and therefore you have also spoken concerning the house of your servant for the time to come: and best made me remarkable above all men, O Lord God.
18 What can David add more, seeing you have thus glorified your servant, and known him?
19 O Lord, for your servant's sake, according to your own heart, you have shewn all this magnificence, and would have all the great things to be known.
20 O Lord there is none like you: and there is no other God beside you, of all whom we have heard of with our ears.
21 For what other nation is there upon earth like your people Israel, whom God went to deliver, and make a people for himself, and by his greatness and terrors cast out nations before their face whom he had delivered out of Egypt?
22 And you have made your people Israel to be your own people for ever, and you, O Lord, art become their God.
23 Now therefore, O Lord, let the word which you have spoken to your servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as you have said.
24 And let your name remain and be magnified for ever: and let it be said: The Lord of hosts is God of Israel, and the house of David his servant remains before him.
25 For you, O Lord my God, have revealed to the ear of your servant, that you will build him a house: and therefore your servant has found confidence to pray before you.
26 And now O Lord, you are God: and you have promised to your servant such great benefits.
27 And you have begun to bless the house of your servant, that it may be always before you: for seeing you bless it, O Lord, it shall be blessed for ever.