17 3 David is forbidden to build an house unto the Lord. 12 Christ is promised under the figure of Solomon. 18 David giveth thanks, 23 and prayeth unto God.

Now (A)afterward when David dwelt in his house, he said to Nathan the Prophet, Behold, I dwell in an house of [a]cedar trees, but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant remaineth under [b]curtains.

Then Nathan said to David, Do [c]all that is in thine heart: for God is with thee.

And the same [d]night even the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

Go, and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

For I have dwelt in no house since the day that I brought out the children of Israel unto this day, but I have been from tent to [e]tent, and from habitation to habitation.

Wherefore I have [f]walked with all Israel, spake I one word to any of the Judges of Israel (whom I commanded to feed my people) saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedar trees?

Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote [g]and from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be a prince over my people Israel.

And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have destroyed all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have [h]made thee a name, like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

(Also I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will [i]plant it, that they may dwell in their place, and move no more: neither shall the [j]wicked people [k]vex them anymore, as at the beginning,

10 And since the time that I commanded judges over my people Israel) And I will subdue all thine enemies: therefore I say unto thee, that the Lord will [l]build thee an house.

11 And when thy days shall be fulfilled to go with thy fathers, then will I raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons, and will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me an house, and I will establish his throne [m]forever.

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 [n]thee.

14 But I will establish him in mine house, and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever,

15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision. So Nathan spake to David.

16 ¶ And David the king [o]went in and [p]sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me [q]hitherto?

17 Yet thou esteeming this a small thing, O God, hast also spoken concerning the house of thy servant for a great while, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of [r]high degree, O Lord God.

18 What can David desire more of thee for the honor of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

19 O Lord, for thy servant’s sake, even according to thine [s]heart hast thou done all this great thing to declare all magnificence.

20 Lord, there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 Moreover what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whose God went to redeem them to be his people, and to make thyself a Name, and to do great and terrible things by casting out Nations from before thy people, whom thou hast delivered out of Egypt?

22 For thou hast ordained thy people Israel to be thine own people forever, and thou Lord art become their God.

23 Therefore now Lord, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be confirmed forever, and do as thou hast said,

24 And let thy Name be stable and magnified forever, that it may be said, The Lord of hosts, God of Israel, is the God of [t]Israel, and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

25 For thou, O my God, hast [u]revealed unto the ear of thy servant, that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath [v]been bold to pray before thee.

26 Therefore now Lord (for thou art [w]God, and hast spoken this goodness unto thy servant.)

27 Now therefore it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee forever: for thou, O Lord, hast blessed it, and it shall be blessed forever.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 17:1 Well built and fair.
  2. 1 Chronicles 17:1 That is, in tents covered with skin.
  3. 1 Chronicles 17:2 As yet God had not revealed to the Prophet what he purposed concerning David: therefore seeing God favored David, he spake what he thought.
  4. 1 Chronicles 17:3 After that Nathan had spoken to David.
  5. 1 Chronicles 17:5 That is, in a tent which removed to and fro.
  6. 1 Chronicles 17:6 Meaning, wheresoever his Ark went, which was a sign of his presence.
  7. 1 Chronicles 17:7 Of a shepherd of sheep I made thee a shepherd of men: so that thou camest not to this dignity through thine own merits, but by my pure grace.
  8. 1 Chronicles 17:8 Or, gotten thee fame.
  9. 1 Chronicles 17:9 Make them sure that they shall not remove.
  10. 1 Chronicles 17:9 Hebrew, sons of iniquity.
  11. 1 Chronicles 17:9 Or, consume.
  12. 1 Chronicles 17:10 Will give thee great posterity.
  13. 1 Chronicles 17:12 That is, unto the coming of Christ: for then these figures should cease.
  14. 1 Chronicles 17:13 Which was Saul.
  15. 1 Chronicles 17:16 He went into the tent where the Ark was, showing what we ought to do when we receive any benefits of the Lord.
  16. 1 Chronicles 17:16 Or, remained.
  17. 1 Chronicles 17:16 Meaning to this kingly estate.
  18. 1 Chronicles 17:17 Thou hast promised a kingdom that shall continue to me and my posterity, and that Christ shall proceed of me.
  19. 1 Chronicles 17:19 Freely and according to the purpose of thy will, without any deserving.
  20. 1 Chronicles 17:24 That is, he showeth himself in deed to be their God, by delivering them from dangers, and preserving them.
  21. 1 Chronicles 17:25 Thou hast declared unto me by Nathan the Prophet.
  22. 1 Chronicles 17:25 Hebrew, hath found.
  23. 1 Chronicles 17:26 And canst not break promise.

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