For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle.

Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, «Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?»»

Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, «Thus says the LORD of hosts: «I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.

And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.

Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,

since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house.

«When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.»»́

According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: «Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant́s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant.

For Your word́s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.

Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name--and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land--before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?

For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God.

«Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.

So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, «The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.́ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.

For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, «I will build you a house.́ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.

«And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.

Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.»

After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.

But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David́s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.

And he said to him, «Why are you, the kinǵs son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?» Amnon said to him, «I love Tamar, my brother Absaloḿs sister.»

So Jonadab said to him, «Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, «Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.»́

Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, «Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.»

And David sent home to Tamar, saying, «Now go to your brother Amnońs house, and prepare food for him.»

So Tamar went to her brother Amnońs house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, «Have everyone go out from me.» And they all went out from him.

Then Amnon said to Tamar, «Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.» And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom.

Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, «Come, lie with me, my sister.»

But she answered him, «No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!

And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.»

However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.

Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, «Arise, be gone!»

So she said to him, «No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me.» But he would not listen to her.

Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, «Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.»

Now she had on a robe of many colors, for the kinǵs virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.

Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.

And Absalom her brother said to her, «Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.» So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absaloḿs house.

But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the kinǵs sons.

Then Absalom came to the king and said, «Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.»

But the king said to Absalom, «No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.» Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.

Then Absalom said, «If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.» And the king said to him, «Why should he go with you?»

But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the kinǵs sons go with him.

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, «Watch now, when Amnońs heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, «Strike Amnon!́ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.»

So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the kinǵs sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.

And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, «Absalom has killed all the kinǵs sons, and not one of them is left!»

So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David́s brother, answered and said, «Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the kinǵs sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

Now therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the kinǵs sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.»

Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him.

And Jonadab said to the king, «Look, the kinǵs sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.»

So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the kinǵs sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.

But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.