Now it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD [is] under tent curtains."
"For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from [one] tabernacle [to another.]
"Wherever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?' " '
"Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.
"And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who [are] on the earth.
"Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
"since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the LORD will build you a house.
"And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go [to be] with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
"And [yet] this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; and You have [also] spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, O LORD God.
"And who [is] like Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself [as] a people -- to make for Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt?
" And now, O LORD, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, [let it] be established forever, and do as You have said.
"So let it be established, that Your name may be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, [is] Israel's God.' And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.
"For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found it [in his heart] to pray before You.
"Now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You have blessed it, O LORD, and [it shall be] blessed forever."