2 Samuel 7

And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

1King David was living in his own house. God had given him peace from all his enemies.

2That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

2David spoke to Nathan, a prophet, someone who told people what God said. "I live in a house made of cedar wood. But the ark of God still sits in a tent."

3And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.

3Nathan said to the king, "Go and do what is in your heart. God is with you."

4And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,

4But that night God spoke a message to Nathan. This is what God said.

5Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

5"Go and tell my servant David what I say. Are you the one to build me a house to live in?

6Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

6I have never lived in a house. Not since I brought Israel out of Egypt. I have moved from place to place in a tent.

7In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

7I traveled everywhere with the people of Israel. I picked leaders to care for them like a shepherd cares for sheep. Did I ever ask one of them, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'

8Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

8So tell my servant David what the LORD of heaven's armies says. I took you from the sheep field. You were following sheep. I made you ruler over my people Israel.

9And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

9I have been with you everywhere you went. I have cut down every enemy in front of you. I will make your name great, like the greatest names on earth.

10Moreover 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; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

10I will give my people Israel a place of their own. I will plant them there like a tree. They will stay, and no one will move them. Wicked people will not hurt them like before.

11And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

11That trouble began back when I gave Israel judges to lead them. But I have given you rest from all your enemies. And God tells you this: he will build you a house.

Note"House" is used two ways in this chapter. When David talks about a house for God, he means a building. When God says he will build David a house, he means a family that keeps going, with sons and grandsons after him.

12And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

12When your life is over, you will die like your fathers before you. Then I will raise up your own son after you. I will make his kingdom strong.

NoteThe KJV says David will "sleep with thy fathers." That was an old way of saying he would die, like his father and grandfather did before him.

13He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

13He will build a house for my name. And I will make his throne last forever.

14I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

14I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will correct him. I will use the same punishments people use on each other.

15But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

15But I will never stop loving him. I took my love away from Saul, the king before you. I will not do that again.

16And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

16Your family and your kingdom will last forever. Your throne will stand forever.

17According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

17Nathan told David every word. He told him everything he had seen and heard.

18Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

18Then King David went in and sat down before God. He said, "Who am I, Lord God? What is my family? Why have you brought me this far?

19And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

19And that was still a small thing to you, Lord God. You have also spoken about my family far into the future. Is this how you treat people, Lord God?

20And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

20What more can David say to you? You already know your servant, Lord God.

21For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

21You did this great thing because you said you would. You did it because you wanted to. And you let your servant know about it.

22Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

22You are great, Lord God. There is no one like you. There is no God but you. We have heard this with our own ears.

23And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

23And no nation on earth is like your people Israel. You went and set them free to be your own people. You made your name known. You did great and frightening things. You drove out nations and their gods, and you rescued your people from Egypt.

NoteThe KJV word "terrible" here does not mean bad or awful. In 1611 it meant something so big and powerful that it made people afraid.

24For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

24You made Israel your own people forever. And you, LORD, became their God.

25And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

25Now, LORD God, keep the promise you made about me and my family. Make it last forever. Do just what you said.

26And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

26Then your name will be great forever. People will say, "The LORD of heaven's armies is God over Israel." And let my family stand strong before you.

27For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

27LORD of heaven's armies, God of Israel, you told me something. You said, "I will build you a house." That is why I am brave enough to pray this prayer.

28And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

28And now, Lord God, you are God. Your words are true. You have promised this good thing to me, your servant.

29Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

29So please bless my family. Let it go on forever in front of you. You have said it, Lord God. Bless my family, and let it be blessed forever.