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 add 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 all built a house of cedar for me?’ ”

7 “So now you should tell my servant David that army commander Yahweh 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 set 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’ve done before, 10 and ever since the time that I 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.