Study Desk

And they brought in the ark of God and placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

He allowed no one to oppress them, And He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying,

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.

Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy in the presence of the LORD; For He is coming to judge the earth.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His faithfulness is everlasting.

And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who were to play them, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.

Then Nathan said to David, "Do whatever is in your heart, for God is with you."

"Go and tell David My servant, 'This is what the LORD says: "You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in;

for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another.

"I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have eliminated all your enemies from you; and I will make for you a name like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.

"And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them there, so that they may live in their own place and not tremble with anxiety again; and the wicked will not make them waste away anymore as they did previously,

even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you.

"He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

"This was a small thing in Your eyes, God; but You have spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come, and have viewed me according to the standard of a person of high degree, LORD God.

"What more can David still say to You concerning the honor bestowed on Your servant? For You know Your servant.

"LORD, for Your servant's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

"And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for You a name by great and awesome things, by driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed from Egypt?

"For You have made Your people Israel Your own people forever, and You, LORD, became their God.

"For You, my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You.