1 When David was living in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I live in a cedar house, but the ark of Yahweh’s covenant is in a tent."

2 Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you."

3 That same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 "Go and tell David my servant, ‘Yahweh says, "You shall not build me a house to dwell in; 5 for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tent to another. 6 In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’"’

7 "Now therefore, you shall tell my servant David, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, "I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel. 8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. 9 I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not waste them any more, as at the first, 10 and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will build you a house. 11 It will happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your offspring after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not take my loving kindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you; 14 but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever. His throne will be established forever."’" 15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

16 Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh; and he said, "Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far? 17 This was a small thing in your eyes, O God, but you have spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the standard of a man of high degree, Yahweh God. 18 What can David say yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant. 19 Yahweh, for your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things. 20 Yahweh, there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 What one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people whom you redeemed out of Egypt? 22 For you made your people Israel your own people forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God. 23 Now, Yahweh, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken. 24 Let your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. The house of David your servant is established before you.’ 25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. 26 Now, Yahweh, you are God, and have promised this good thing to your servant. 27 Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever."

1 大卫住在自己宫中的时候， 他对拿单先知说： "看哪， 我住在香柏木做的王宫， 耶和华的约柜却在帐幕里。"

2 拿单对大卫说： "你可以照你的心意去作， 因为 神与你同在。"

3 当夜， 神的话临到拿单， 说：

4 "你去对我的仆人大卫说： ‘耶和华这样说： 你不可建殿给我居住。

5 因为自从我领以色列人上来那天起， 直到今日， 我都未曾住过殿宇， 只是从这帐幕到那帐幕， 从这帐棚到那帐棚。

6 我和以色列众人， 无论走到什么地方， 从没有向以色列的一个士师， 就是我所吩咐牧养我的子民的， 说： 你们为什么不给我建造香柏木的殿宇呢？’

7 现在你要对我的仆人大卫说： ‘万军之耶和华这样说： 我把你从羊圈中选召出来， 使你不再跟随羊群， 使你作领袖管治我的子民以色列。

8 无论你到哪里去， 我总与你同在； 在你面前消灭你所有的仇敌； 我必使你获得名声， 好像世上伟人的名声一样。

9 我要为我的子民以色列人选定一个地方， 栽培他们， 使他们住在自己的地方， 不再受搅扰， 也不再像从前被恶徒苦害他们，

10 好像我吩咐士师统治我的子民以色列人的日子一样。我必制伏你所有的仇敌， 并且我告诉你， 耶和华必为你建立家室。

11 你的寿数满足， 归你列祖那里的时候， 我必兴起你的后裔接替你， 他是你的众子中的一位； 我必坚立他的国。

12 他要为我建造殿宇， 我必坚立他的王位， 直到永远。

13 我要作他的父亲， 他要作我的儿子； 我的慈爱必不离开他， 像离开在你以前的那位一样；

14 我却要把他坚立在我的家里和我的国里， 直到永远； 他的王位必永远坚立。’"

15 拿单就按着这一切话和他所见的一切， 告诉了大卫。

16 于是大卫王进去， 坐在耶和华面前， 说： "耶和华 神啊， 我是什么人？我的家算什么， 你竟带领我到这个地步？

17 神啊， 这在你眼中看为小事， 你对你仆人的家的未来发出应许！ 耶和华 神啊， 你看我好像一个高贵的人。

18 你把荣耀加在你仆人身上， 我还有什么话可以对你说呢？你认识你的仆人。

19 耶和华啊， 为了你仆人的缘故， 也是按着你的心意， 你行了这一切大事， 为要使人知道这一切大事。

20 耶和华啊， 照着我们耳中所听见的， 没有谁能与你相比； 除你以外， 再没有别的神。

21 世上有哪一个国能比得上你的子民以色列呢？ 神亲自把他们救赎出来， 作自己的子民， 又在你从埃及所救赎出来的子民面前驱逐列国， 以大而可畏的事建立自己的名。

22 你使你的子民以色列永远作你的子民； 耶和华啊， 你也作了他们的 神。

23 耶和华啊， 现在求你永远坚立你应许你仆人和他的家的话， 照着你所说的实行吧。

24 愿你的名永远坚立、尊大， 以致人人都说： ‘万军之耶和华以色列的 神， 实在是以色列人的 神。’这样， 你仆人大卫的家就在你面前得到坚立了。

25 我的 神啊， 因为你启示了你的仆人， 要你的仆人为你建造殿宇， 所以你仆人才敢在你面前这样祷告。

26 耶和华啊， 唯有你是 神， 你曾应许把这福气赐给你的仆人；

27 现在请你赐福你仆人的家， 使它在你面前永远存留。耶和华啊， 因为你已经赐福了你仆人的家， 它必永远蒙福。"