1And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant (berit) of YHWH is under curtains."
2And Nathan said to David, "All that is in your heart, do, for God is with you."
3And it came to pass on that night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4"Go and say to David my servant, Thus says YHWH: You shall not build me the house to dwell in;
5for I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought up Israel until this day, but I have been from tent to tent, and from a tabernacle (mishkan).
6In all that I have walked among all Israel, did I speak a word with one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded (tzivvah) to shepherd my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedars?
7And now, thus you shall say to my servant, to David, Thus says YHWH of hosts (tzevaot): I took you from the pasture, from after the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel;
8and I have been with you wherever you have walked, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.
9And I will set a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more; neither shall the sons of injustice continue to wear them down as at the first,
10and from the days that I commanded (tzivvah) judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. And I declare to you that YHWH will build you a house.
11And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled to go with your fathers, that I will raise up your seed after you, who shall be from your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
13I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to me for a son; and my lovingkindness I will not turn away from him, as I turned it from him who was before you.
14And I will set him up in my house and in my kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.
15According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.
16And David the king came in and sat before YHWH, and he said, "Who am I, YHWH God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?
17And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God; and you have spoken concerning the house of your servant for a great while to come, and you have looked upon me according to the rank of the man (adam) of high degree, YHWH God.
18What more can David add to you for the honor of your servant? For you know your servant.
19O YHWH, for the sake of your servant, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.
20O YHWH, there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21And who is like your people Israel, one nation in the earth, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make for yourself a name of great and awesome things, by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed out of Egypt?
22And you gave your people Israel to yourself for a people forever; and you, YHWH, became their God.
23And now, O YHWH, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, let it be confirmed forever, and do as you have spoken.
24And let it be confirmed, and let your name be magnified forever, saying, YHWH of hosts (tzevaot), the God of Israel, is God to Israel; and the house of David your servant shall be established before you.
25For you, O my God, have revealed to the ear of your servant that you will build him a house; therefore your servant has found it to pray before you.
26And now, O YHWH, you are God, and you have spoken this good thing concerning your servant;
27and now, you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may be forever before you; for you, O YHWH, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.