1 Chronicles 17 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Once David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Look — I'm living in a palace built with cedar, but the chest of Yahweh's covenant is sitting under tent curtains."

Nathan said to David, "Go ahead — do whatever is on your heart. God is with you."

But that same night, the word of God came to Nathan:

"Go tell my servant David, 'This is what Yahweh says: You are not the one who will build me a house to live in.

I have never lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up until today. I've gone from tent to tent, from one dwelling to the next.

In all the places I've traveled with all of Israel, did I ever say one word to any of the leaders of Israel I appointed to shepherd my people — did I ever ask, "Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?"'

"Now then, say this to my servant David: 'This is what Yahweh, the Commander of angel armies, says: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be the ruler over my people Israel.

I've been with you everywhere you've gone. I've cut down all your enemies right in front of you. And I will make your name as great as the greatest names on earth.

I will establish a place for my people Israel and plant them there, so they can live in their own place and never be disturbed again. Violent people will not wear them down anymore, the way they did at the beginning,

ever since the days I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will bring down all your enemies. And I'm telling you: Yahweh will build you a house.

When your days are done and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you — one of your own sons — and I will establish his kingdom.

He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will make his throne stand forever.

I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never pull my loyal love away from him the way I pulled it from the one who came before you.

I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established for all time."

Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

Then King David went in and sat before Yahweh, and he said: "Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my family, that you've brought me this far?

And even this wasn't enough for you, God. You've spoken about your servant's family far into the future and have looked on me as though I were the most important man alive, Yahweh God.

What more can David say to you about the honor you've shown your servant? You know your servant through and through.

Yahweh, you've done all this incredible stuff — you've revealed all these great things — for your servant's sake and because that's what was in your heart.

Yahweh, there's no one like you. There is no God besides you — not according to anything we've ever heard with our own ears.

And who is like your people Israel — the one nation on earth that God went out to reclaim as his own people? You made a name for yourself through great and awe-inspiring deeds, driving out nations before your people, the ones you rescued from Egypt.

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

And now, Yahweh, let the promise you've made about your servant and his family stand firm forever. Do exactly what you've said.

Let it stand firm so that your name will be great forever, and people will say, "Yahweh, the Commander of angel armies, the God of Israel, is God over Israel!" And let the house of your servant David be established before you.

Because you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. That's why your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer before you.

And now, Yahweh, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.

Now you have been pleased to show your favor to your servant's house, so that it will continue before you forever. Because when you show your favor, Yahweh, it is shown with favor forever."