1. King David was settled in his palace, and the Lord kept him safe from all his enemies.
2. Then the king said to the prophet Nathan, “Here I am living in a house built of cedar, but God's Covenant Box is kept in a tent!”
3. Nathan answered, “Do whatever you have in mind, because the Lord is with you.”
4. But that night the Lord said to Nathan,
5. “Go and tell my servant David that I say to him, ‘You are not the one to build a temple for me to live in.
10-11. I have chosen a place for my people Israel and have settled them there, where they will live without being oppressed any more. Ever since they entered this land, they have been attacked by violent people, but this will not happen again. I promise to keep you safe from all your enemies and to give you descendants.