Chapter 7

David's good purpose to build a Temple is deferred by God's appointment. ℣.12 with promise that his son shall perform it, and be established in the Kingdom. ℣.18 For all which he rendereth thanks to God.

1. 1

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

2. 2

   he said to Nathan the Prophet: Dost thou see that I dwell in a house of cedar, & the ark of God is set in the midst of skins?

3. 3

   And Nathan said to the king: All that is in thy heart, go do, because our Lord is with thee.

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   And it came to pass in that night: and behold the word of our Lord to Nathan, saying:

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

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   For neither have I dwelt in house from the day that I brought the children of Israel out of the Land of Ægypt, until this day: but I walked in tabernacle, and in tent.

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   Throughout all the places, that I have passed with all the children of Israel, speaking did I speak to one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying: why did you not build me a house of cedar?

8. 8

   And now these things shalt thou say to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I took thee out of the pastures following the flocks, that thou shouldest be Prince over my people Israel:

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   and I have been with thee wheresoever thou hast walked, and have slain all thine enemies from thy face: and have made thee a great name, according to the name of the great ones, that are in the earth.

10. 10

    And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant it, and they shall dwell under it, and shall be troubled no more: neither shall the children of iniquity add to afflict them as before.

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

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    And when thy days shall be accomplished, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall come forth of thy womb, and I will establish his Kingdom.

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

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    I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to me for a son: who if he shall do any thing unjustly, I will rebuke him in the rod of men, and in the plagues of the sons of men.

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

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

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

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

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

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    What can David therefore add yet, to speak unto thee? For thou knowest thy servant, o Lord God.

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    For thy word, and according to thy heart thou hast done all these great things, so that thou wouldest notify it to thy servant.

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

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    And what nation is there in the earth as thy people Israel, for the which God hath gone, that he might redeem it to be his people, & might make himself a name, & do for them great wonders, and horrible things upon the earth, before the face of thy people, whom thou redeemedst to thy self out of Ægypt, from the nations & from their gods.

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    For thou hast confirmed the people Israel to be an everlasting people: and thou Lord God art become their God.

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    Now therefore, o Lord God, raise up for ever the word, that thou hast spoken upon thy servant & upon his house, & do as thou hast spoken,

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    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 our Lord,

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    because thou, o Lord of hosts God of Israel, hast revealed the ear of thy servant, saying: A house I build thee: therefore hath thy servant found his heart to pray thee with this prayer.

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    Now therefore, o Lord God, thou art God, & thy words shall be true: for thou hast spoken to thy servant these good things.

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    Begin therefore, & bless the house of thy servant, that it may be for ever before thee: because thou Lord God hast spoken, by thy blessing shall the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.