The Second Book of Samuel

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 7 -

(1 Chronicles 17:1–15)

And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

He said to Nathan the prophet: Dost thou see that I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God is lodged within skins?

And Nathan said to the king: Go, do all that is in thy heart: because the Lord is with thee.

But it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

Go, and say to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord: Shalt thou build me a house to dwell in?

Whereas I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt even to this day: but have walked in a tabernacle, and in a tent.

In all the places that I have gone through with all the children of Israel, did ever I speak a word to any one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?

And now thus shalt thou speak to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: a I took thee out of the pastures from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel:

And I have been with thee wheresoever thou hast walked, and have slain all thy enemies from before thy face: and I have made thee a great man, like unto the name of the great ones that are on the earth.

And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell therein, and shall be disturbed no more: neither shall the children of iniquity afflict them any more as they did before,

From the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I will give thee rest from all thy enemies. And the Lord foretelleth to thee, that the Lord will make thee a house.

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

He shall build a house to my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and if he commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.

But my mercy I will not take away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before my face.

And thy house shall be faithful, and thy kingdom for ever before thy face, and thy throne shall be firm for ever.

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

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

(1 Chronicles 17:16–27)

And David went in, and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?

But yet this hath seemed little in thy sight, O Lord God, unless thou didst also speak of the house of thy servant for a long time to come: for this is the law of Adam, O Lord God.

And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord God:

For thy word’s sake, and according to thy own heart thou hast done all these great things, so that thou wouldst make it known to thy servant.

Therefore thou art magnified, O Lord God, because there is none like to thee, neither is there any God besides thee, in all the things that we have heard with our ears.

And what nation is there upon earth, as thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for them great and terrible things, upon the earth, before the face of thy people, whom thou redeemedst to thyself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods.

For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be an everlasting people: and thou, O Lord God, art become their God.

And now, O Lord God, raise up for ever the word that thou hast spoken, concerning thy servant and concerning his house: and do as thou hast spoken,

That thy name may be magnified for ever, and it may be said: The Lord of hosts is God over Israel. And the house of thy servant David shall be established before the Lord.

Because thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to the ear of thy servant, saying: I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to thee.

And now, O Lord God, thou art God, and thy words shall be true: for thou hast spoken to thy servant these good things.

And now begin, and bless the house of thy servant, that it may endure for ever before thee: because thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

(1 Chronicles 17:1–15)

When the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,

the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within curtains.”

Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

That same night, the LORD’s word came to Nathan, saying,

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘The LORD says, “Should you build me a house for me to dwell in?

For I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle.

In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, did I say a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’

Now therefore tell my servant David this: ‘The LORD of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel.

I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

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 afflict them any more, as at the first,

and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD tells you that the LORD will make you a house.

When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men;

but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.

Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’”

Nathan spoke to David all these words, and according to all this vision.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

(1 Chronicles 17:16–27)

Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, “Who am I, Lord

(a)

GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?

This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord GOD, but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this among men, Lord GOD!

What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Lord GOD.

For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.

Therefore you are great, LORD God. For there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make himself a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeemed to yourself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

You established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, LORD, became their God.

“Now, LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken.

Let your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David will be established before you.’

For you, LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.

“Now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.

Now therefore, let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord GOD, have spoken it. Let the house of your servant be blessed forever with your blessing.”

Footnotes

(a)7:18 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”