Bible Society of South Africa

Seisoen na Pinkster: Proper 11 (16)

Eerste lesing en Psalm

Nathan's Message to David

1King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD kept him safe from all his enemies. 2Then the king said to the prophet Nathan, “Here I am living in a house built of cedar, but God's Covenant Box is kept in a tent!”

3Nathan answered, “Do whatever you have in mind, because the LORD is with you.” 4But that night the LORD said to Nathan, 5“Go and tell my servant David that I say to him, ‘You are not the one to build a temple for me to live in. 6From the time I rescued the people of Israel from Egypt until now, I have never lived in a temple; I have travelled round living in a tent. 7In all my travelling with the people of Israel I never asked any of the leaders that I appointed why they had not built me a temple made of cedar.’

8“So tell my servant David that I, the LORD Almighty, say to him, ‘I took you from looking after sheep in the fields and made you the ruler of my people Israel. 9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have defeated all your enemies as you advanced. I will make you as famous as the greatest leaders in the world. 10-11I have chosen a place for my people Israel and have settled them there, where they will live without being oppressed any more. Ever since they entered this land, they have been attacked by violent people, but this will not happen again. I promise to keep you safe from all your enemies and to give you descendants. 12When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of your sons king and will keep his kingdom strong. 13He will be the one to build a temple for me, and I will make sure that his dynasty continues for ever. 14I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him as a father punishes his son.

2 Samuel 7:1-14GNBOpen in Bible reader

20I have made my servant David king

by anointing him with holy oil.

21My strength will always be with him,

my power will make him strong.

22His enemies will never succeed against him;

the wicked will not defeat him.

23I will crush his foes

and kill everyone who hates him.

24I will love him and be loyal to him;

I will make him always victorious.

25I will extend his kingdom

from the Mediterranean to the River Euphrates.

26He will say to me,

‘You are my father and my God;

you are my protector and saviour.’

27I will make him my firstborn son,

the greatest of all kings.

28I will always keep my promise to him,

and my covenant with him will last for ever.

29His dynasty will be as permanent as the sky;

a descendant of his will always be king.

30“But if his descendants disobey my law

and do not live according to my commands,

31if they disregard my instructions

and do not keep my commandments,

32then I will punish them for their sins;

I will make them suffer for their wrongs.

33But I will not stop loving David

or fail to keep my promise to him.

34I will not break my covenant with him

or take back even one promise I made him.

35“Once and for all I have promised by my holy name:

I will never lie to David.

36He will always have descendants,

and I will watch over his kingdom as long as the sun shines.

37It will be as permanent as the moon,

that faithful witness in the sky.”

Psalms 89:20-37GNBOpen in Bible reader
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