2 Samuel 6

1 Once again David called up all specially chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in total.

David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 He went with all his men to Baalah in Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which belongs to the Lord Almighty who sits between the cherubim that are on the Ark.

David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah, to bring up from there God’s ark, which is called by the Name, even the name of the LORD of Hosts who sits above the cherubim.

3 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, were directing the cart

They set God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

4 with the Ark of God on it, with Ahio walking in front of it.

They brought it out of Abinadab’s house which was in the hill, with God’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark.

5 David and all the Israelites were celebrating in the Lord's presence, singing songs accompanied by zithers, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.

6 But when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, the oxen stumbled, so Uzzah reached out to stop the Ark of God from falling.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for God’s ark and took hold of it, for the cattle stumbled.

7 The Lord was angry with Uzzah, and God struck him down right there for his disobedience, and he died beside the Ark of God.

The LORD’s anger burnt against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark.

8 David was angry because of the Lord's violent outburst against Uzzah. He called the place Perez-uzzah, which is still its name today.

David was displeased because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah to this day.

9 David became afraid of the Lord that day. “How can I ever bring back the Ark of God home to me?” he asked.

David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How could the LORD’s ark come to me?”

10 Not wanting to bring the Ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David, he had it taken to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite.

So David would not move the LORD’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.

11 The Ark of the Lord remained in Obed-edom's home for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom's whole household.

The LORD’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his house.

12 King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom's household and all that he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went and had the Ark of God brought from Obed-edom's house to the City of David. There was a lot of celebration!

King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy.

13 After those carrying the Ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

When those who bore the LORD’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

14 Wearing a priest's ephod, David danced as hard as he could before the Lord

David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.

15 as he and all the Israelites brought along the Ark of the Lord, with plenty of shouting and the sound of horns being blown.

So David and all the house of Israel brought up the LORD’s ark with shouting and with the sound of the shofar.

16 As the Ark of the Lord was carried into the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked down from a window. She watched King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she really loathed him.

As the LORD’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the Ark of the Lord and put it on its place inside the tent that David had set up for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and friendship offerings before the Lord.

They brought in the LORD’s ark, and set it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18 Once he had finished offering the sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.

When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.

19 He gave all the Israelites, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then he sent everyone home.

He gave to all the people, even amongst the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed, each to his own house.

20 When David got home to bless his family, Michal, Saul's daughter came out to meet him and said, “How distinguished the king of Israel made himself look today, taking off his robes so everyone's servant girls could see, just as somebody crude would expose himself!”

Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

21 David told Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his family when he named me ruler over the Lord's people Israel. I will continue to celebrate before the Lord,

David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before the LORD.

22 in fact I'm going to make myself even less distinguished, become even more humble. However, I will be respected by those servant girls you spoke about.”

I will be yet more undignified than this, and will be worthless in my own sight. But the maids of whom you have spoken will honour me.”

23 And Michal, Saul's daughter, never had any children.

Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.