David’s Prayer

18 Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “(A)Who am I, Lord [a]God, and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God, (B)for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And (C)this is the [b]custom of mankind, Lord God. 20 Again what more can David say to You? For (D)You know Your servant, Lord God! 21 (E)For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason (F)You are great, Lord God; for (G)there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, (H)according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And (I)what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and (J)to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, [c]because of (K)Your people whom (L)You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods? 24 For (M)You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and (N)You, Lord, have become their God. 25 Now then, Lord God, the word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do just as You have spoken, 26 (O)so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of armies is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have [d]given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘(P)I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found [e]courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now then, Lord God, You are God, and (Q)Your words are truth; and You have [f]promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 And now, may [g]it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord God, have spoken; and [h](R)with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:18 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  2. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or law
  3. 2 Samuel 7:23 Or before Your
  4. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit uncovered the ear of
  5. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit his heart
  6. 2 Samuel 7:28 Lit spoken
  7. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit You be resolved and bless
  8. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit from

18 Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?

20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant.

21 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

22 Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God.

25 And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

27 For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

28 And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

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18 Then David went into the Tabernacle and sat before the Lord and prayed, “O Lord God, why have you showered your blessings on such an insignificant person as I am? 19 And now, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving me an eternal dynasty! Such generosity is far beyond any human standard! O Lord God! 20 What can I say? For you know what I am like! 21 You are doing all these things just because you promised to and because you want to! 22 How great you are, Lord God! We have never heard of any other God like you. And there is no other God. 23 What other nation in all the earth has received such blessings as Israel, your people? For you have rescued your chosen nation in order to bring glory to your name. You have done great miracles to destroy Egypt and its gods. 24 You chose Israel to be your people forever, and you became our God.

25 “And now, Lord God, do as you have promised concerning me and my family. 26 And may you be eternally honored when you have established Israel as your people and have established my dynasty before you. 27 For you have revealed to me, O Lord of heaven, God of Israel, that I am the first of a dynasty which will rule your people forever; that is why I have been bold enough to pray this prayer of acceptance. 28 For you are indeed God, and your words are truth; and you have promised me these good things— 29 so do as you have promised! Bless me and my family forever! May our dynasty continue on and on before you; for you, Lord God, have promised it.”

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