1 When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
3 Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”
4 But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
5 “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?
8 “Now then, speak thus to my servant David, ‘The LORD of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel.
9 I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
10 I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
11 since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.
12 And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.
14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men and with human chastisements;
16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.'”
2 The promises of the LORD I will sing forever, proclaim your loyalty through all ages.
3 For you said, “My love is established forever; my loyalty will stand as long as the heavens.
4 I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:
5 I will make your dynasty stand forever and establish your throne through all ages.” Selah
27 He shall cry to me,’You are my father, my God, the Rock that brings me victory!’
29 Forever I will maintain my love for him; my covenant with him stands firm.
67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.
69 He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant,
70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant
73 and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that,
74 rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
