The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

1 Chronicles 17

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Ketuvim — the Writings

1 Chronicles chapter 17 — part of the Ketuvim — the Writings in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet: 'Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar,…” — the complete text of all 27 verses is below, free to read online.

1And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet: 'Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of HaShem dwelleth under curtains.'

2And Nathan said unto David: 'Do all that is in thy heart; for G-d is with thee.'

3And it came to pass the same night, that the word of G-d came to Nathan, saying:

4'Go and tell David My servant: Thus saith HaShem: Thou shalt not build Me a house to dwell in;

5for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel, unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

6In all places wherein I have walked among all Israel, spoke I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people, saying: Why have ye not built Me a house of cedar?

7Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto My servant David: Thus saith HaShem of hosts: I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over My people Israel;

8and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth.

9And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disquieted no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,

10even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will subdue all thine enemies. Moreover I tell thee that HaShem will build thee a house.

11And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, who shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever.

13I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to Me for a son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee;

14but I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for ever.'

15According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

16Then David the king went in, and sat before HaShem; and he said: 'Who am I, O HaShem G-d, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me thus far?

17And this was a small thing in Thine eyes, O G-d; but Thou hast spoken of Thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me after the manner of a man of high degree, O HaShem G-d.

18What can David say yet more unto Thee concerning the honour which is done to Thy servant? for Thou knowest Thy servant.

19O HaShem, for Thy servant's sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

20O HaShem, there is none like Thee, neither is there any G-d beside Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21And who is like Thy people Israel, a nation one in the earth, whom G-d went to redeem unto Himself for a people, to make Thee a name by great and tremendous things, in driving out nations from before Thy people, whom Thou didst redeem out of Egypt.

22For Thy people Israel didst Thou make Thine own people for ever; and Thou, HaShem, becamest their G-d.

23And now, O HaShem, let the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as Thou hast spoken.

24Yea, let it be established, and let Thy name be magnified for ever, that it may be said: HaShem of hosts is the G-d of Israel, even a G-d to Israel; and the house of David Thy servant shall be established before Thee.

25For Thou, O my G-d, hast revealed to Thy servant that Thou wilt build him a house; therefore hath Thy servant taken heart to pray before Thee.

26And now, O HaShem, Thou alone art G-d, and hast promised this good thing unto Thy servant;

27and now it hath pleased Thee to bless the house of Thy servant, that it may continue for ever before Thee; for Thou, O HaShem, hast blessed, and so let Thy servant be blessed for ever.'

27 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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