13. He will build a temple for me. I will make his kingdom strong forever.
14. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he sins, I will use other people to punish him. They will be my whips.
15. But I will not stop loving him. I took away my love and kindness from Saul. I removed Saul when I turned to you.
16. But your family and your kingdom will continue forever before me. Your rule will last forever.’”
17. Nathan told David everything he had heard.
18. Then King David went in the tent and sat in front of the Lord. David said, “Lord God, why have you made me so important to you? Why have you made my family important?
19. But that was not enough for you, Lord God. You have also said these kind things about my future family. I am your servant. Lord God, this is not the usual way you talk to people.
20. “What more can I say to you? Lord God, you love me, your servant, so much!
21. You have done this wonderful thing because you said you would. You have done it because you wanted to. And you have decided to let me know all these great things.
22. This is why you are great, Lord God! There is no one like you. There is no God except you. We have heard all this ourselves!
23. And there are no others like your people, the Israelites. They are the one nation on earth that God chose to be his people. You used them to make your name well-known. You did great and wonderful miracles for them. You went ahead of them and forced other nations and their gods out of the land. You freed your people from slavery in Egypt.
24. You made the people of Israel your very own people forever. And, Lord, you became their God.
25. “Now, Lord God, keep the promise you made about my family and me, your servant. Do what you have promised.
26. Then you will be honored forever. And people will say, ‘The Lord of heaven’s armies is God over Israel!’ And the family of your servant David will continue before you.