1 Chronicles 17

1 After David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] had settled into his palace [house of cedar, a dwelling place], he said to Nathan [a prophet, a spokesperson for God] the prophet, “Here I am, living [dwelling, residing] in a house [a dwelling place, a temple] of cedar [a cedar tree, strong and durable], while the ark [a box or chest, a container for the covenant] of the covenant [a promise or agreement, a treaty] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] is under [beneath, underneath] a tent [a portable shelter, a temporary dwelling].” word study 2 And Nathan [the prophet, giver of divine guidance] replied to David, “Do [accomplish, bring to pass] all that is in your [innermost] heart [mind, will, and emotions], for [because, since] God [Elohim, the supreme Lord] is with [together, in close relationship] you [as your guide and supporter].” word study 3 But that [same] night [period of darkness, time of adversity] the word [divine message, declaration] of God [Elohim, the supreme Being] came [was given, appeared] to Nathan [the prophet, giver], saying [to speak, command], word study 4 “Go [to approach, draw near] and tell My servant [faithful attendant, one who serves] David that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] says: You [as an individual, personally] are not [by no means, absolutely not] the one to build [to construct, establish] Me a house [a dwelling place, temple] in which to dwell [to reside, abide, rest]. word study 5 For [as a reason, because] I have not dwelt [lived, resided, remained] in a house [a dwelling place, a permanent home] from the day [a period of time, an era] I brought [ascended, led] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] up out of Egypt [a place of bondage] until [till, as far as] this day [the present time, the current era], but I have moved [gone, traveled] from tent [a portable dwelling, a nomad’s home] to tent [a temporary shelter, a place of rest] and dwelling [a tabernacle, a sacred place] to dwelling [a house, a permanent residence]. word study 6 In all [every single one of] My journeys [travels, wanderings] with all [every one of] the Israelites, have I ever [at any time] asked [spoken to, commanded] any of the leaders [judges, rulers] I appointed [commanded, ordained] to shepherd [care for, tend to] My people [My nation, Israel], ‘Why haven’t you built [constructed, established] Me a house [dwelling place, temple] of cedar [a strong and durable wood]?’ word study 7 Now then [at this time, in this manner], you are to tell My servant [faithful attendant, slave] David that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] says: I took you from the pasture [sheepfold, dwelling place], from following the flock [tending sheep, caring for], to be the ruler [leader, commander] over My people [nation, tribe] Israel [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen]. word study 8 I have been with [accompanied and helped] you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off [destroyed and removed] all your enemies [adversaries and those who oppose you] from before you. Now I will make for you a name [reputation and character] like the greatest [most renowned and respected] in the land [the earth]. word study 9 And I will provide [appoint, ordain] a place [location, dwelling] for My people [nation, descendants] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob] and will plant [establish, settle] them so that they may dwell [reside, live] in a place [their own land, inheritance] of their own and be disturbed [troubled, shaken] no more [not again, never]. No longer [not again, from now on] will the sons [descendants, children] of wickedness [injustice, moral evil] oppress [afflict, persecute] them as they did at the beginning [first, initially] word study 10 and have done since the day [from the very beginning, the time I started] I appointed [to command, give orders to] judges [to govern, vindicate] over My people [nation, descendants] Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen]. And I will subdue [humble, overcome] all your enemies [adversaries, those who oppose]. Moreover, I declare [tell, make known] to you that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] will build [establish, construct] a house [dwelling place, family] for you. word study 11 And when your days [the time appointed for you, your lifespan] are fulfilled [completed, come to an end] and you go [to walk, to depart] to be with your fathers [ancestors, those who have gone before], I will raise up [establish, set up] your descendant [seed, offspring] after you, one of your own sons [a son of yours, a descendant], and I will establish [make firm, secure] his kingdom [royal power, dominion]. word study 12 He [the one destined to rule] will build [construct, establish] a house [temple, dwelling place] for Me, and I will establish [set up, confirm] his throne [seat of authority, kingdom] forever [for all eternity, till the end of time]. word study 13 I will be his Father [the ultimate Parent, divine Caregiver], and he will be My son [a child of God, having God’s nature]. And I will never remove [take away, withdraw] My loving devotion [kindness, mercy, lovingkindness] from him as I removed [turned aside, departed from] it from your predecessor [the one who was before you, Saul]. word study 14 But I will set [establish, settle] him over My house [dwelling place, temple] and My kingdom [royal power, dominion] forever [for all eternity, always], and his throne [seat of authority, royal power] will be established [set up, confirmed] forever [till the end of time, perpetually].” word study 15 So Nathan [the prophet, giver] relayed to David [the king] all [everything, the entirety] the words [messages, revelations] of this [specific] entire vision [revelation, prophecy, divine insight, from God, a divine message]. word study 16 Then King David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] went in, sat [to dwell, remain] before the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and said, “Who [what person, which one] am I, O LORD God [Elohim, the supreme God], and what is my house [family, dwelling place], that You have brought me [caused me to come, led me] this far [until now, to this point]? word study 17 And as if this [small thing, insignificant matter] was a small thing in Your eyes [gaze, regard], O God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], You have spoken [promised, declared] about the future [distant time, what is to come] of the house [family, dynasty] of Your servant [one who serves, a slave] and have regarded me as a man of great distinction [high degree, noble position], O LORD [Yehovah] God [the one supreme God]. word study 18 What more [or how] can David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] say to You [toward Your presence] for so honoring [bestowing great glory upon] Your servant [a humble slave, devoted to God]? For You know [are intimately acquainted with, perceive] Your servant [the one who serves You], word study 19 O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. For the sake of [because of, on account of] Your servant [slave, one who serves] and according to Your own heart [feelings, will, and intellect], You have accomplished [done, wrought] this great thing [mighty act, greatness] and revealed [made known, shown] all Your greatness [mighty acts, dignity]. word study 20 O [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] LORD, there is none [like no other, unique] like You, and there is no [other, besides] God [Elohim, the one supreme God] but You, according to [all that we have learned] everything we have heard [with attention and obedience, listened] with our own [physical and spiritual] ears. word study 21 And who [like what other nation] is like Your people Israel [a unique and chosen nation]—the one nation on earth [a singular and special people] whom God [Elohim, the supreme Redeemer] went out to redeem [to ransom and set free] as a people for Himself? You made a name [a reputation and honor] for Yourself through great [mighty and powerful] and awesome [fearful and reverent] wonders by driving out nations [Gentiles and heathen peoples] from before Your people, whom You redeemed [rescued and delivered] from Egypt [a land of bondage and slavery]. word study 22 For You have made [ordained, appointed] Your people Israel [the descendants of Jacob, Your chosen nation] Your very own [possess, special treasure] forever [till the end of time, eternally], and You, O LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], have become their God [Elohim, their divine Ruler, Savior]. word study 23 And now [at this time, in this moment], O LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], let the word [promise, declaration] You have spoken [communicated, uttered] concerning Your servant [slave, bondservant] and his house [family, household] be established [confirmed, fulfilled] forever [always, eternally]. Do [accomplish, bring to pass] as You have promised [spoken, declared], word study 24 so that Your name [fame, renown, reputation] will be established [firmly set up, confirmed] and magnified [made great, glorified] forever [for all eternity, always] when it is said, ‘The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], is God [the supreme ruler] over Israel [the chosen people].’ And may the house [family, dynasty] of Your servant [faithful attendant, devoted follower] David be established [set up, confirmed] before You [in Your presence, under Your care]. word study 25 For You, my God [Elohim, the one supreme God], have revealed [uncovered, made known] to Your servant [one who serves and obeys] that You will build [establish, construct] a house [a family, a dynasty] for him. Therefore Your servant [one who serves and obeys] has found [discovered, attained] the courage [confidence, boldness] to pray [intercede, make petition] before You [in Your presence, face to face]. word study 26 And now [at this time, in this moment], O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], You are God [Elohim, the one supreme God]! And You have promised [spoken, communicated] this goodness [pleasant, beneficial thing] to Your servant [one who serves, a slave]. word study 27 So now [at this time, in this moment] You have been pleased [willing, undertaken] to bless [to praise, honor] the house [dwelling place, family] of Your servant [slave, one who serves], that it may continue [exist, endure] forever [always, eternally] before You [in Your presence]. For You, O LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], have blessed [praised, honored] it, and it will be blessed [praised, honored] forever [always, eternally].” word study