1
Now it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under tent curtains."
2
Then Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."
3
But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4
"Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: "You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.
5
For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
6
Wherever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?' " '