7 Then the king moved into his palace, and Yahweh allowed him to have a time of peace from all his enemies. 2 One day the king said to the prophet Natan, “Look, I’m here living in a house made of cedar, but God’s box is still there in a tent.”

3 “Go and do whatever you consider best,” Natan replied, “because Yahweh is with you.” 4 But that night, Yahweh spoke to Natan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David that Yahweh says, ‘Will you build a house for me to live in? 6 I haven’t lived in a house since I brought the Israelis out of Egypt right up until now, but rather I was living in a tent as they moved around. 7 In all those places, I never once queried the leaders to ask why they never built a cedar house for me.’

8 “But now you should tell my servant David that commander Yahweh says, ‘I myself took you out of the grass field where you looked after the sheep and goats to become the leader of my people the Israelis. 9 Everywhere you’ve gone, I’ve been with you and destroyed your enemies in front of you, and I will make you famous like all the famous people on the earth. 10 I will establish a place for the Israelis and put them there to live, and they won’t be afraid because evil people won’t continue to oppress them like happened in the past 11 when I appointed heroes (traditionally ‘judges’) over my people Yisrael. I will give you peace from all your enemies, and I, Yahweh, will enable your descendants to rule after you. 12 when your time on earth comes to an end and you’re laid down with your ancestors, I will appoint one of your sons to be king and I will establish his kingdom.[ref] 13 He’s the one who’ll build a temple for me, and I will make his descendents reign forever. 14 I myself will become like a father to him, and he’ll become like a son to me. When he disobeys, I’ll punish him like fathers punish their sons.[ref] 15 But my kindness won’t turn away from you like I turned away from Sha’ul—the one who I removed ahead of you. 16 Your descendants and your kingdom will remain forever. Your throne will be established forever.’ ”[ref]

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 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 [ref]◙ 14 ◙