1 Now it came to pass, as David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan, the prophet, Behold, I dwell in a house of cedars, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD under curtains. 2 Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thy heart for God is with thee.
3 And it came to pass the same night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 Go and tell David my slave, Thus hath the LORD said, Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in, 5 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. 6 Wherever I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedars? 7 Now, therefore, thus shalt thou say unto my slave David, Thus hath the LORD of the hosts said, I took thee from the sheepfold, from following the sheep that thou should be ruler over my people Israel; 8 and I have been with thee wherever thou hast walked and have cut off all thy enemies from before thee and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth. 9 Likewise I have ordained a place for my people Israel and have planted him that he dwell by himself and no longer be moved; neither shall the sons of iniquity waste them any more, as before, 10 since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I have humbled all thy enemies and announce unto thee that the LORD will build thee a house. 11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled to go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne eternally. 13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son; and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee; 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom for ever, and his throne shall be established for evermore. 15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.