Open English Translation 1 CHR Chapter 17

17 After a while, when David was living in his house, he said to the prophet Natan, “Look, here I am living in a palace made of cedar, but the box containing Yahweh’s agreement is kept in a tent.” 2 “Go and do what you’re planning,” Natan replied, “because God is with you.”

3 But that night God spoke to Natan, 4 “Go and tell my servant David that Yahweh says this: You yourself won’t be the one to build a residence for me to live in, 5 because I haven’t lived in a building from the day that I brought Yisrael out of Egypt until today—I’ve moved from place to place and tent to tent. 6 As I travelled with all the Israelis, did I ever complain to any of Yisrael’s leaders who I’d commanded to shepherd my people, and ask them, ‘Why haven’t you people built a house out of cedar for me?’ ”

7 “So now you should tell my servant David that Yahweh, commander of hordes, says this: I myself took you from the pasture, from behind the sheep, to be a leader over my people, Yisrael. 8 I’ve always been with you wherever you’ve gone, and I’ve defeated all your enemies who were attacking you, and I’ll make you famous like some of the greatest people in the world. 9 I’ll choose a place for my people, Yisrael, and I’ll plant them, and they’ll settle in that place and not need to be fearful again. Violent groups won’t continue to trouble them like they did in the past, 10 ever since I first put heroes and leaders over my people, Yisrael. Then I’ll humble all your enemies. In addition, I declare to you that Yahweh will build a dynasty for you. 11 When your time on earth is up, and it’s time to join your deceased ancestors, then I’ll raise up one of your sons and establish his kingdom. 12 He’ll be the one to build a temple for me and establish a dynasty that will last forever. 13 I myself will be a father to him, and he’ll be a son to me, and I won’t cease my loyal commitment to him like I ended it with your predecessor.[ref] 14 I’ll confirm his rule over my temple and my kingdom forever, and his ruling dynasty will last forever.”

15 So Natan passed all of that on to David.

16 Then king David went in and sat in front of Yahweh, and asked, “Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my family, that you’ve brought me to this point? 17 This was such a small thing in your eyes, God, and you’ve spoken about the future of your servant’s family, and you’ve blessed me more than I deserve, Yahweh God. 18 What more can I, David, say to you about how you’ve honoured your servant? You certainly know me well. 19 Yahweh, you’ve done all these great things for the sake of your servant, and done just what you wanted in order to reveal your greatness. 20 Yahweh, there’s no one else like you, and no god except you, as we’ve all heard for ourselves. 21 There’s no other country like your people, Yisrael—the only nation in the world where you, God, rescued the people in order to make them your own. That made you famous, and also feared, as you drove the people groups out ahead of your people who you ransomed out of Egypt. 22 You took your people, Yisrael, to be your people forever, and you, Yahweh, became our god.

23 “And now, Yahweh, may what you said about your servant and his family be confirmed forever, and come to pass just like you’ve said. 24 May your reputation be established and increase forever, as people say, ‘Yahweh, commander of hordes, Yisrael’s god, is god over Yisrael.’ And your servant David’s family has been established as you’ve watched, 25 because you, God, have revealed to your servant that you’ll give me a dynasty. That’s why I’m brave enough to pray to you. 26 Yes, Yahweh, you are God and you’ve promised these good things to me, your servant. 27 And you’ve now decided to bless your servant’s family to be in front of you forever, because you, Yahweh, have blessed us, and so we’ll be blessed forever.