1Cuando el SEÑOR, finalmente, trajo paz sobre la tierra, e Israel dejó de estar en guerra con las naciones vecinas,2David le dijo al profeta Natán: ―Mira, yo estoy viviendo en este hermoso palacio de cedro, mientras que el cofre de Dios está en una carpa.3―Haz lo que has pensado —dijo Natán—, porque el SEÑOR está contigo.4Pero aquella noche el SEÑOR le dijo a Natán:5«Dile a mi siervo David que no lo haga,6porque nunca he vivido en un templo. Mi hogar siempre ha sido una carpa desde que saqué a Israel de Egipto.7Y jamás me he quejado delante de los caudillos de Israel, los pastores de mi pueblo. ¿Les he preguntado alguna vez por qué no me han edificado un hermoso templo de cedro?8»Así que dile a mi siervo David que yo, el SEÑOR Todopoderoso, lo saqué del redil para que no siga cuidando las ovejas sino para que gobierne a mi pueblo Israel.9Que yo he estado con él adondequiera que ha ido y he derrotado a sus enemigos. Que yo engrandeceré aún más su nombre, para que sea uno de los hombres más famosos del mundo.10-11A mi pueblo Israel le he dado un lugar donde pueda vivir tranquilo, sin que nadie les cause daño ni los oprima, como sucedía en la época en que los jueces los gobernaban. Te libraré de todos tus enemigos, y seré yo quien te construya una casa.12Porque cuando tú mueras, yo pondré a uno de tus hijos en tu trono y haré que su reino sea fuerte.13Él será el que me va a edificar un templo, y yo estableceré su trono para siempre.14Yo seré su Padre y él será mi hijo. Si él me falla, yo lo castigaré como un padre castiga a su hijo,15pero no le retiraré mi amor como sí se lo retiré a Saúl, tu antecesor.16Tu dinastía y tu reino gozarán de mi favor, de modo que tu trono será establecido para siempre».17Natán, pues, fue ante David y le dijo todo lo que el SEÑOR le había dicho.
Oración de David
18Entonces David entró a la carpa donde estaba el cofre y se sentó delante del SEÑOR, y le dijo: «Mi SEÑOR y Dios, ¿por qué me has engrandecido, si yo y mi familia somos tan insignificantes?19Y ahora, además de todo, hablas de darme una dinastía eterna. Tu generosidad es superior a lo que de un hombre se pudiera esperar. Mi SEÑOR y Dios20¿qué más puedo decir? Porque tú sabes cómo soy.21Tú haces todas estas cosas porque tú lo has prometido y lo has querido.22»¡Cuán grande eres, mi SEÑOR y Dios! ¡Nunca hemos oído de un Dios como tú! ¡Es que no existe otro dios!23¿Qué otras naciones en la tierra han recibido bendiciones similares a las de Israel tu pueblo? Porque tú rescataste de la esclavitud a tu nación escogida, para traer gloria a tu nombre. Tú la rescataste para ti de Egipto, de las otras naciones y de sus dioses.24Tú escogiste a Israel para que sea tu pueblo para siempre, y tú has sido nuestro Dios.25»Y ahora, mi SEÑOR y Dios, haz lo que has prometido tocante a mí y a mi familia.26Que seas eternamente honrado por haber establecido a Israel como tu pueblo, y haber afirmado mi dinastía delante de ti.27»Porque tú, SEÑOR Todopoderoso, Dios de Israel, me has revelado que yo soy el primero de una dinastía que gobernará a tu pueblo para siempre. Por eso es que me he atrevido a elevarte esta oración.28Porque ciertamente tú eres Dios, y tus palabras son verdaderas. Tú me has prometido estas buenas cosas.29Te suplico que bendigas la casa de tu siervo, de modo que mi casa permanezca para siempre delante de ti, oh SEÑOR y Dios, porque tú lo has prometido».
1Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, (Jos 11:23; 1 Cr 17:1)2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” (Ex 26:1; 2 S 5:11; 2 S 7:17; 2 S 12:1)3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” (1 R 8:17; 1 Cr 22:7; 1 Cr 28:2; Hch 7:46)4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan,5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? (1 R 5:3; 1 R 8:19; 1 Cr 22:8; 1 Cr 28:3)6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. (Ex 40:18; Ex 40:34; 1 R 8:16)7In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges[1] of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ (Lv 26:11; Dt 23:14; 2 S 5:2; 1 Cr 17:6)8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince[2] over my people Israel. (1 S 16:11; Sal 78:70)9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. (1 S 18:14; 2 S 5:10; 2 S 8:6; 2 S 8:14)10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, (2 R 21:8; Sal 44:2; Sal 80:8; Sal 89:22; Jer 24:6; Am 9:15)11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. (Ex 1:21; Jos 11:23; Jue 2:14; 1 S 2:35; 1 S 12:9; 2 S 7:1; 2 S 7:27; 1 R 11:38)12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. (Dt 31:16; 1 R 1:21; 1 R 2:1; 1 R 2:10; 1 R 8:20; Sal 132:11; Hch 13:36)13He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 S 7:16; 1 R 5:5; 1 R 6:12; 1 R 8:19; 1 Cr 22:10; 1 Cr 28:6; Sal 89:4; Sal 89:29; Sal 89:36)14I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, (Sal 89:26; Sal 89:32; Heb 1:5)15but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. (1 S 15:23; 1 S 15:28; 2 S 7:14; 1 R 11:13; 1 R 11:34)16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[3] Your throne shall be established forever.’” (2 S 7:13; Sal 89:36; Lc 1:33)17In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
David’s Prayer of Gratitude
18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? (Gn 32:10)19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! (2 S 7:12; 1 Cr 17:17)20And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! (Sal 139:1)21Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.22Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (Ex 15:11; Dt 3:24; 1 Cr 16:25; 2 Cr 2:5; Sal 86:8; Sal 89:6; Sal 89:8; Is 45:5; Jer 10:6)23And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them[4] great and awesome things by driving out before your people,[5] whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? (Dt 4:7; Dt 4:34; Dt 9:26; Dt 10:21; Dt 33:29; Neh 1:10; Sal 147:20)24And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. (Dt 26:18; 2 S 7:13; 2 S 7:16; 2 S 7:26)25And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.26And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you.27For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.28And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. (Jn 17:17)29Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.” (2 S 22:51; Sal 89:28)