1 Chronicles 17

Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.

As David relaxed at home, he turned to Nathan the prophet and said, "Look, I live in a cedar house, yet the ark of God's covenant is just under a tent."

Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

Nathan encouraged David, "Follow your heart, David. God is on your side."

And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

That very night, God's message reached Nathan, whispering to him,

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

Inform David, my servant, with this message from the Lord: "You are not destined to construct a home for me."

For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

Since the day I guided Israel, I've never stayed in a house. I've been moving from one tent to another, always on the move.

Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a 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 cedars?

Throughout my journey with all of Israel, did I ever question any of the leaders I entrusted with my people, asking, "Why haven't you built me a cedar home?"

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

Tell my servant David this: The Lord says, 'I chose you when you were just a shepherd, tending to my sheep. Now, I've made you the leader of my people, Israel.'

And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

I've been with you wherever you've gone, eliminated all your foes, and made your name as renowned as the greatest people on earth.

Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

I promise to provide a safe home for my people, Israel. I will establish them firmly, they will live peacefully, never to be uprooted or tormented by evil again, unlike before.

And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.

Ever since I appointed leaders to guide my people, Israel, I've been there. I promise to conquer all your foes. Know this, the LORD will build you a house: a family line of kings.

And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

When your time on earth ends and you join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your own sons to follow you, and I will make his kingdom secure.

He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

He will construct a home for me, and in return, I will secure his reign eternally.

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 thee:

I'll be his loving dad, and he'll be my cherished son. Unlike before, I'll never withdraw my compassion from him.

But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

I will forever welcome him into my home and kingdom, and his reign will stand unshaken for all eternity.

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

Nathan passionately conveyed every word and vision to David, just as they were given.

And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

King David approached God, humbly asking, "Who am I, Lord, and what is my family, that you've brought me this far?"

And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

Yet, to you, my God, this was just a minor thing. You've also promised a bright future for my family, and you've treated me as if I were someone of great importance, my Lord.

What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

How else can David express his gratitude for your respect towards him? After all, you truly understand him.

O LORD, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

Lord, out of your love for your servant and guided by your own heart, you've shown us your magnificent works and revealed these amazing truths.

O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Dear Lord, we've heard and believe, there's no one like you, no other God but you.

And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

Which other nation on earth is as special as your people, Israel? God himself came to free them, to claim them as his own and make his name great and feared. He did this by driving out other nations before them, nations they overcame when they were freed from Egypt.

For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.

You, Lord, chose the people of Israel to be yours forever, and you became their God, filled with love and devotion.

Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.

Lord, please make your promises to me and my family come true forever, just as you've said.

Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

May your name be forever honored and celebrated, acknowledging that the LORD, the God of Israel, is our God. May the lineage of your servant David always stand strong in your presence.

For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

You, my God, promised to create a home for me. So, I am moved to pray to you with all my heart.

And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

Now, LORD, you are God, and you've graciously promised this kindness to me, your humble servant.

Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.

Please, bless my home, Lord. Let it stand in your presence always. For when you bless, Lord, it remains blessed forever.