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Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around,
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that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains."
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Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you."
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But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,
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"Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
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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.
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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?' " '