Scrutatio

Venerdi, 29 marzo 2024 - Santi Simplicio e Costantino ( Letture di oggi)

2 Samuel 7


font

1Once the king had settled into his palace and Yahweh had granted him rest from al the enemiessurrounding him,2the king said to the prophet Nathan, 'Look, I am living in a cedar-wood palace, while the ark of God isunder awnings.'3Nathan said to the king, 'Go and do whatever you have in mind, for Yahweh is with you.'4But that very night, the word of Yahweh came to Nathan:5'Go and tell my servant David, "Yahweh says this: Are you to build me a temple for me to live in?6I have never lived in a house from the day when I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today, buthave kept travel ing with a tent for shelter.7In al my travels with al the Israelites, did I say to any of the judges of Israel, whom I had commanded to shepherd my people Israel: Why do you not build me a cedar-wood temple?"8This is what you must say to my servant David, "Yahweh Sabaoth says this: I took you from thepasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel;9I have been with you wherever you went; I have got rid of al your enemies for you. I am going to makeyour fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth.10I am going to provide a place for my people Israel; I shall plant them there, and there they wil live andnever be disturbed again; nor wil they be oppressed by the wicked any more, as they were in former times11ever since the time when I instituted judges to govern my people Israel; and I shal grant you rest fromal your enemies. Yahweh furthermore tel s you that he wil make you a dynasty.12And when your days are over and you fal asleep with your ancestors, I shal appoint your heir, yourown son to succeed you (and I shal make his sovereignty secure.13He wil build a temple for my name) and I shal make his royal throne secure for ever.14I shal be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does wrong, I shal punish him with a rod such asmen use, with blows such as mankind gives.15But my faithful love wil never be withdrawn from him as I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed frombefore you.16Your dynasty and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be for ever secure."'17Nathan related al these words and this whole revelation to David.18King David then went in, sat down in Yahweh's presence and said: 'Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and whatis my lineage, for you to have led me as far as this?19Yet, to you, Lord Yahweh, this seemed too little, and now you extend your promises for your servant'sfamily into the distant future. Such is human destiny, Lord Yahweh.20What more can David say to you, since you, Lord Yahweh, know al about your servant?21Because of your promise and since you were so inclined, you have had the generosity to reveal this toyour servant.22That is why you are great, Lord Yahweh; there is no one like you, no God but you alone, as everythingthat we have heard confirms.23Is there another people on earth like your people, like Israel, whom a god proceeded to redeem, tomake them his people and to make a name for himself by performing great and terrible things on their behalf, bydriving out nations and their gods before his people? -24for you constituted your people Israel your own people for ever and you, Yahweh, became their God.25'Now, Yahweh God, may the promise which you have made for your servant and for his family standfirm forever as you have said,26so that your name wil be exalted for ever and people wil say, "Israel's God is Yahweh Sabaoth." Yourservant David's dynasty wil be secure before you,27since you, Yahweh Sabaoth, the God of Israel, have disclosed to your servant, "I am going to buildyou a dynasty." Hence, your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to you.28Yes, Lord Yahweh, you are God indeed, your words are true and you have made this generouspromise to your servant.29What is more, you have deigned to bless your servant's dynasty, so that it may remain for ever beforeyou; for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken; and may your servant's dynasty be blessed with your blessing forever.'