1 Chronicles

Retells some stories from Samuel and Kings, focusing on King David and the importance of worship.

Chapter 17

1 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.

*One day, when David was sitting in his house, he told Nathan the prophet, "I live in a house made of cedar trees, but God's special box, called the Ark of the Covenant, is still covered by curtains."

2 Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

*Then Nathan told David, Go ahead and do what you have in mind; because God is by your side.

3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

*That night, God's message came to Nathan, saying,

4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

*Tell David, God's servant, "The Lord says you won't build a house for Him to live in."

5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

*For I haven't lived in a house since I started leading Israel until now. Instead, I've moved between tents and different shelters.

6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

*Wherever I went with all Israel, I asked the judges, who I told to take care of my people, "Why haven't you built me a house of cedar wood?"

7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:

*So now, tell my servant David this: The Lord of heaven's armies says, "I chose you from taking care of sheep to lead my people Israel."

8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

*I've been with you everywhere you went, eliminated all your enemies, and given you a famous name like other great people on Earth.

9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

*I will choose a home for my people Israel, plant them there, and they will stay. The bad people won't bother them anymore, like in the past.

10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.

*Since I appointed judges for my people Israel, I will defeat all your enemies. Also, I am telling you that the Lord will build a home for you.

11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

*When your time to die comes, I will make one of your sons the next king and establish his rule.

12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

*He will construct my home, and I will firmly establish his royal seat forever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:

*I will be his father, and he will be my son. I won't stop being kind to him like I did with the person who was there first.

14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

*But I will let him live in my home and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will be strong and steady forever.

15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

*As per everything said and shown in the vision, that's how Nathan spoke to David.

16 And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

*King David arrived and sat in front of God, asking, "Who am I, God, and what is my family, that you have brought me here?"

17 And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

*And still, this was not much in your view, God; because you have also mentioned that my family will be blessed for many generations, and you treat me like someone important, Lord God.

18 What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

*What else can David say to you to honor your servant? Because you already know that I am your servant.

19 O LORD, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

*O GOD, because of your servant and as you wish, you have accomplished all this greatness by revealing all these wonderful things.

20 O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

*O GOD, you are unique, and there is no other god like you. We have heard this through our ears.

21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

*Which country on Earth is similar to Israel, who God chose to save and make His special people? He did this to give them a great and fearsome reputation. By removing other nations from their path, God showed how special they were after freeing them from Egypt.

22 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.

*You made Israel your eternal people, Lord, and you became their God.

23 Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.

*So now, God, make what you've said about your servant and their family true forever, and do what you have promised.

24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

*Let it be clear that your name is great forever, saying, "The Lord of armies is Israel's God, a true God for Israel, and make the family of David, your servant, strong in front of you.

25 For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

*You, God, have told your servant that you will build a home for them. So, the servant feels in their heart to pray to you.

26 And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

*Now, Lord, you are God, and you have promised this goodness to your servant.

27 Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.

*So now, please bless my family, so they always stay close to you. You are the one who gives blessings, Lord, and they will be forever blessed.

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