1 Chronicles 17:1-27 VOICE

[1] Once David had sat in his palace, he made an observation. David (to Nathan the prophet): I live in a sturdy house made of expensive, imported cedar, but the covenant chest of the Eternal lives in a temporary house made of curtains. This does not seem right. [2] Nathan: If you want to build God a house, then do it. God is with you. [3] Later that night, God came to Nathan and corrected his thinking. [4] Eternal One: Go and tell My servant David the Eternal One says: You may not build a house for Me to live in; [5] I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought Israel out of Egypt until today. I have always moved from tent to tent, from one home to another. [6] In all these places where I have walked with Israel, did I ever ask any of the judges I commanded to shepherd Israel, "Why have you not built for Me an expensive house of cedar?" [7] I, the Eternal One, Commander of heavenly armies, pledge this: I moved you from the pasture, where you followed behind sheep, to the palace, where you now lead My sheep, Israel. [8] I have accompanied you wherever you have gone and have destroyed your enemies from before you. I will exalt your name to the level of the great ones who are on the earth. [9] I will select a land for My people Israel; I will plant them so they may live in their own land and not be moved again. The wicked will not exhaust them anymore, as they did from the beginning [10] and as when I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. I will humble all your enemies. I, the Eternal One, will build a house for you, instead of you building a house for Me. [11] At the end of your life, when your reign on earth is complete and you have joined your ancestors, I shall select one of your sons in your place, and I shall build his house. In return, he will build a house for Me, a temple where I shall dwell and where your people will worship Me. And I will establish his throne forever. [13] I shall be his Father, and he will be My son. I shall not take My loyal love from him as I took it from Saul who reigned before you. [14] I shall establish him in My temple and in My kingdom forever. His throne will last forever. [15] Nathan told David exactly what the Eternal said through this vision. [16] Then King David sat before the Eternal. David: Why have You, Eternal God, brought someone as lowly as me and my family to such a prominent place? [17] This promise was a small thing to You, O God; but it ensures the stability of my house for a long time and reveals to me future generations while regarding me as a man of importance, and their importance to You, Eternal God. [18] How else can I thank you? For You have honored Your servant, and you have come to know Your servant. [19] Eternal, for my sake and according to Your desire, You have orchestrated all this greatness and revealed all these great things. [20] Eternal, there is none like You; for all we have heard no other god exists who has revealed such things. [21] No other nation on the earth is like Your people Israel. You redeemed us to be Your people, to make Your name great by Your powerful deeds-driving out nations from before us, whom You redeemed out of Egypt. [22] You made us Your own people forever; and You, Eternal One, became our God forever. [23] Eternal, may Your promise last forever, and may You do as You have spoken over your servant and his house. [24] May Your name be established and magnified forever: "The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, God of Israel, is Israel's God; and the house of Your servant David is established before You." [25] You, my God, have revealed Your intention to establish my kingdom; therefore, I have the courage to pray before You. [26] Now, Eternal, You are God and have promised this good thing to Your servant. [27] You are pleased to bless the house of Your servant; may Your pleasure continue forever. For You, Eternal, have blessed and will bless forever.