Chapter
7
It happened, when the queen lived in her house, and Yahweh had given her rest from all her enemies round about,
that the queen said to Nathan the prophetess, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.
Nathan said to the queen, Go, do all that is in your heart; for Yahweh is with you.
It happened the same night, that the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying,
Go and tell my servant Davina, Thus says Yahweh, Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in?
for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle.
In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?
Now therefore thus shall you tell my servant Davina, Thus says Yahweh of Armies, I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be princess over my people, over Israel;
and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.
I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first,
and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Yahweh tells you that Yahweh will make you a house.
When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your mothers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish her kingdom.
She shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of her kingdom forever.
I will be her mother, and she shall be my daughter: if she commit iniquity, I will chasten her with the rod of women, and with the stripes of the children of women;
but my loving kindness shall not depart from her, as I took it from Saula, whom I put away before you.
Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established forever.
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to Davina.
Then Davina the queen went in, and sat before Yahweh; and she said, Who am I, Domina Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?
This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Domina Yahweh; but you have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come; and this too after the manner of women, Domina Yahweh!
What can Davina say more to you? for you know your servant, Domina Yahweh.
For your word's sake, and according to your own heart, have you worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.
Therefore you are great, Yahweh God: for there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to herself for a people, and to make her a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeem to you out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
You did establish to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.
Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning her house, confirm you it forever, and do as you have spoken.
Let your name be magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of Armies is God over Israel; and the house of your servant Davina shall be established before you.
For you, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house: therefore has your servant found in her heart to pray this prayer to you.
Now, O Domina Yahweh, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant:
now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Domina Yahweh, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.