Chronicles I 16

1 So they brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle which David pitched for it; and they offered whole burnt offerings and peace-offerings before God.

They brought the Sacred Chest [to Gibeon] and put it inside the Sacred Tent that David had [told his workers to] set up. Then they brought offerings to be completely burned [on the altar] and offerings to enable them to maintain fellowship [with God].

2 And David finished offering up whole burnt offerings and peace-offerings, and blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

When David had finished presenting all those offerings, he [asked Yahweh to] bless the people.

3 And he divided to every man of Israel (both men and women), to [every] man one baker's loaf, and a cake.

He gave a loaf of bread, some dates, and some raisins to every Israeli man and woman [who was there].

4 And he appointed before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Levites to minister [and] lift up the voice, and to give thanks and praise the Lord God of Israel:

Then David appointed some of the descendants of Levi to stand in front of [the Sacred Tent in which] the Sacred Chest [had been placed], to lead the people who worshiped and thanked and praised Yahweh, the God of the Israeli people.

5 Asaph [was] the chief, and next to him Zacharias, Jeiel, Semiramoth, and Jeiel, Mattathias, Eliab, and Banaeas, and Abdedom: and Jeiel sounding with musical instruments, lutes [and] harps, and Asaph with cymbals:

Asaph, who played the cymbals, was their leader. Zechariah was his assistant. The other descendants of Levi [who helped Asaph] were Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They played lyres and harps.

6 and Banaeas and Oziel the priests [sounding] continually with trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God in that day.

Benaiah and Jahaziel were priests who blew trumpets frequently in front of [the Sacred Tent in which was] the Sacred Chest.

7 Then David first gave orders to praise the Lord by the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

On that day, David gave to Asaph and his helpers this psalm to praise Yahweh:

8 Song. Give thanks to the Lord, call upon him by his name, make known his designs among the people.

Thank God, and pray to him [MTY]. Tell the people of all nations what he has done.

9 Sing [songs] to him, and sing hymns to him, relate to all [people] his wonderful deeds, which the Lord has wrought.

Sing to him; sing songs to praise him. Tell about all his miraculous deeds.

10 Praise his holy name, the heart that seeks his pleasure shall rejoice.

Be glad that you belong to him [MTY]; those who want to know Yahweh better should rejoice.

11 Seek the Lord and be strong, seek his face continually.

Trust in Yahweh and in his power; continually seek to get help from him.

12 Remember his wonderful works which he has wrought, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Do not forget the wonderful things that he has done, the miracles and the just laws that he has given to us.

13 [you] seed of Israel his servants, [you] seed of Jacob his chosen ones.

We people are the descendants of his servant Jacob; we are the people of Israel whom he has chosen.

14 He [is] the Lord our God; his judgments [are] in all the earth.

Yahweh is our God. His just/fair laws are known by people throughout the world.

15 Let us remember his covenant for ever, his word which he commanded to a thousand generations,

He never forgets the agreement that he has made: he made a promise that will last for 1,000 generations.

16 which he covenanted with Abraham, and his oath [sworn] to Isaac.

That is the agreement that he made with Abraham, and he repeated that agreement to Isaac.

17 He confirmed it to Jacob for an ordinance, to Israel [as] an everlasting covenant,

It was an agreement for the Israeli people, and he wanted that agreement to endure forever.

18 saying, To you will I give the land of Chanaan, the line of your inheritance:

What he said was, “I will give the Canaan region to you, to belong to you [and your descendants forever].”

19 when they were few in number, when they were but little, and lived as strangers in it;

[He said that to them] when there were only a few of them, a tiny group of people who were living in that land (like strangers/that belonged to other people);

20 and went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people.

they continued to wander from one place to another, from one kingdom to another.

21 He suffered not a man to oppress them, and he reproved kings for their sakes,

But he did not allow others to oppress them, and he warned kings by saying to them,

22 saying, Touch not my anointed ones, and deal not wrongfully with my prophets.

“Do not harm the people whom I have chosen! Do not harm my prophets!”

23 Sing you to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation from day to day.

You people throughout the world, sing to Yahweh. Every day proclaim [to others] that he has saved us.

24 Declare among the nations his glory, his wondrous deeds among all peoples.

Tell the people of the nations that he is great; tell all the people-groups the marvelous things [that he has done].

25 For the Lord [is] great, and greatly to be praised: he [is] to be feared above all gods.

Yahweh is great, and he deserves to be praised very much. He should be revered more than all the gods,

26 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols; but our God made the heavens.

because all the gods that the [other] people-groups [worship] are only idols, but Yahweh [is truly great; he] created the skies.

27 Glory and praise [are] in his presence; strength and rejoicing [are] in his place.

He is glorious and majestic; his power and joy fill his Sacred Tent.

28 Give to the Lord, you families of the nations, give to the Lord glory and strength.

You people in nations all over the world, praise Yahweh! Praise Yahweh for his glorious power [HEN]!

29 Give to the Lord the glory [belonging] to his name: take gifts and offer [them] before him; and worship the Lord in his holy courts.

Praise Yahweh like he [MTY] deserves to be praised. Bring an offering and come to his Sacred Tent. Worship Yahweh because he is holy.

30 Let the whole earth fear before him; let the earth be established, and not be moved.

Everyone on the earth should tremble in front of Yahweh. He put the earth firmly [in its place]; and nothing ever will be able to move/shake it.

31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult; and let them say among the nations, The Lord reigns.

Everything in the sky and on the earth should be happy. People [everywhere] should say, “Yahweh is our king!”

32 The sea with its fullness shall resound and the tree of the field, and all things in it.

The oceans and all the creatures that are in the oceans should shout to praise him; the fields and everything that is in them should rejoice.

33 Then shall the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord, for he is come to judge the earth.

When they do that, [it will be as though] the trees in the forest will sing joyfully in front of Yahweh. That will happen when he comes to judge [everyone on] [MTY] the earth.

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for [it is] good, for his mercy [is] for ever.

Thank Yahweh, because [everything that he does is] good. He faithfully loves us forever.

35 And say you, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us, and rescue us from among the heathen, that we may praise your holy name, and glory in your praises.

Say to him, “God, you are the one who rescues us, so gather us together and save us from [the armies of] other nations. When you do that, we will thank you [MTY], and we will be happy to praise you.”

36 Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting: And all the people shall say, Amen. So they praised the Lord.

Praise Yahweh, the God of us Israeli people, He has always existed, and he will exist forever. After the people [finished singing that song], they all said, “(Amen/May it be so)!”, and they praised Yahweh.

37 And they left there Asaph and his brethren before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to minister before the ark continually, according to the service of each day: from day to day.

Then David left Asaph and the other members of his clan there in front of [the tent in which] Yahweh’s Sacred Chest [had been placed]. He told them that they must do their work there every day.

38 And Abdedom and his brethren [were] sixty and eight; and Abdedom the son of Idithun, and Osa, [were] to be doorkeepers.

David also left Obed-Edom and 68 other descendants of Levi to work with them. Hosah and Obed-Edom guarded [the entrances of the Sacred Tent].

39 And [they appointed] Sadoc the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place in Gabaon,

David also told Zadok the [Supreme] Priest and the other priests who worked with him to remain in front of Yahweh’s Sacred Tent, which was still at the place where the Israeli people worshiped [God there] in Gibeon [city].

40 to offer up whole burnt offerings continually morning and evening, and according to all things written in the law of the Lord, which he commanded the children of Israel by Moses the servant of God.

Every morning and every evening they burned offerings on the altar, obeying the rules/laws that had been written [by Moses], rules/laws which Yahweh had given to the Israeli people.

41 And with him [were] Aeman and Idithun, and the rest chosen out by name to praise the Lord, for his mercy [endures] for ever.

With them were Heman and Jeduthun and other descendants of Levi. They [MTY] were chosen to sing songs to praise Yahweh because he faithfully loves his people forever.

42 And with them [there were] trumpets and cymbals to sound aloud, and musical instruments for the songs of God: and the sons of Idithun [were] at the gate.

Heman and Jeduthun were appointed to play the trumpets and cymbals when [the other descendants of Levi sang sacred songs]. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to guard the gates [of the Sacred Tent].

43 And all the people went every one to his home: and David returned to bless his house.

Then all the people left. They returned to their homes, and David returned home to [ask Yahweh to] bless his family.