1It came about that when David was living in his house, David spoke to Nathan the prophet: "Behold, I am living in a house of cedars, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD remains under curtains."2Nathan replied to David, "Do everything that is in your heart, for God is with you."3That same night the word of God came to Nathan:4Go and tell my servant David, "Thus says the LORD: You shall not build a house for me to live in."5I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up until this day, but have gone from tent to tent and from tabernacle to tabernacle.6In all my travels throughout Israel, did I ever speak with one of the judges of Israel whom I appointed to shepherd my people and say, "Why have you not built me a house of cedars?"7Now therefore you shall say to my servant David, "Thus says the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel."8I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies before you. I will make for you a name like the names of the great men who are in the land.9I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. The sons of injustice shall not afflict them any longer as in former times.10From the time I appointed judges over my people Israel, I have subdued all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you.11When your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom.12He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.13I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. I will never remove my steadfast love from him, as I removed it from the one who was before you.14I will establish him 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, Nathan spoke to David.