Now when David was dwelling in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet: Behold I dwell in a house of cedar: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under skins. 2And Nathan said to David: Do all that is in thy heart: for God is with thee. 3Now that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: 4Go, and speak to David my servant: Thus saith the Lord: Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in. 5For I have not remained in a house from the time that I brought up Israel, to this day: but I have been always changing places in a tabernacle, and in a tent, 6Abiding with all Israel. Did I ever speak to any one, of all the judges of Israel whom I charged to feed my people, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 7Now therefore thus shalt thou say to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I took thee from the pastures, from following the flock, that thou shouldst be ruler of my people Israel. 8And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast gone: and have slain all thy enemies before thee, and have made thee a name like that of one of the great ones that are renowned in the earth. 9And I have given a place my people Israel: they shall be planted, and shall dwell therein, and shall be moved no more, neither shall the children of iniquity waste them, as at the beginning, 10Since the days that I gave judges to my people Israel, and have humbled all thy enemies. And I declare to thee, that the Lord will build thee a house. 11And when thou shalt have ended thy days to go to thy fathers, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons: and I will establish his kingdom. 12He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever. 13I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee. 14But I will settle him in my house, and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be most firm for ever. 15According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.