1 Chronicles 16

1 And they brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before God.

They brought in the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent that David had set up for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.

2 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offerings and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh.

3 And he dealt out to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

He distributed to every Israelite, both to men and women, a loaf of bread, and a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins.

4 And he placed before the ark of the Lord several of the Levites as ministers, and to chaunt hymns, and to give praise and thanks unto the Lord the God of Israel:

David appointed certain Levites to serve before the ark of Yahweh, and to celebrate, thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel.

5 Assaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah; Je'iel, and Shemiramoth, and Jechiel, and Matthithyah, and Eliab, and Benayahu, and 'Obed-edom; and Je'iel with psalteries and with harps; but Assaph played aloud with the cymbals.

These Levites were Asaph the leader, and second to him Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel. These were to play with stringed instruments and with harps. Asaph was to sound the cymbals, sounding loudly.

6 And Benayahu and Jachaziel the priests were with the trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 On that day—then did David appoint for the first time to give thanks to the Lord through means of Assaph and his brethren.

Then on that day David first appointed Asaph and his brothers to sing this song of thanksgiving to Yahweh.

8 O give thanks unto the Lord; call on his name; make known among the people his deeds.

Give thanks to Yahweh, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations.

9 Sing unto him, sing praises unto him: speak of all his wonderful works.

Sing to him, sing praises to him; speak of all his marvelous deeds.

10 Glorify yourselves in his holy name: let the heart of those rejoice that seek the Lord.

Boast in his holy name; let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.

11 Inquire after the Lord and his strength: seek his presence evermore.

Seek Yahweh and his strength; seek his presence continually.

12 Remember his wonderful works which he hath done, his tokens, and the decrees of his mouth;

Recall the marvelous things he has done, his miracles and the decrees from his mouth,

13 O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his elect.

you descendants of Israel his servant, you people of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 He is the Lord our God: over all the earth are his decrees.

He is Yahweh, our God. His decrees are on all the earth.

15 Remember ye for ever his covenant, the word which he hath commanded to the thousandth generation.

Keep his covenant in mind forever, the word that he commanded for a thousand generations.

16 Which he covenanted with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;

He calls to mind the covenant that he made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac.

17 And which he established unto Jacob as a statute, unto Israel as an everlasting covenant;

This is what he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, and to Israel as an everlasting covenant.

18 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, as the portion of your inheritance;

He said, “I will give you the land of Canaan as your share of your inheritance.”

19 When ye were but few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

When they were only few in number, so very few, and they were strangers in the land,

20 And when they wandered from one nation to another, and from one kingdom to another people:

they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

21 He suffered no man to oppress them; yea, he reproved kings for their sake.

He did not allow anyone to oppress them; he punished kings for their sakes.

22 Saying, “Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”—

he said, “Do not touch my anointed ones, and do not harm my prophets.”

23 Sing unto the Lord all ye lands: announce from day to day his salvation.

Sing to Yahweh, all the earth; announce his salvation day after day.

24 Relate among the nations his glory: among all the people his wonderful deeds.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all the nations.

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

For Yahweh is great and is to be praised greatly, and he is to be feared above all other gods.

26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord hath made the heavens.

For all the gods of the nations are idols, but it is Yahweh who made the heavens.

27 Majesty and honor are in his presence, strength and gladness are in his place.

Splendor and majesty are in his presence. Strength and joy are in his place.

28 Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye families of people, ascribe unto the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to Yahweh, you clans of peoples, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!

29 Ascribe unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; take up an offering, and come into his presence; bow down before the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory his name deserves. Bring an offering and come before him. Bow down to Yahweh in the splendor of holiness.

30 Tremble before him, all ye lands! Also the world standeth firmly, that it be not moved.

Tremble before him, all the earth. The world also is established; it cannot be shaken.

31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let them say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.”

32 Let the sea roar, with all that filleth it: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.

Let the sea roar, and that which fills it shout with joy. Let the fields be joyful, and all that is in them.

33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing joyfully at the presence of the Lord; because he cometh to judge the earth.

Then let the trees in the forest shout for joy before Yahweh, for he is coming to judge the earth.

34 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; because unto everlasting endureth his kindness.

Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, to glorify ourselves in thy praise.

Then say, “Save us, God of our salvation. Gather us together and rescue us from the other nations, so that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praises.”

36 Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from everlasting even unto everlasting. And all the people said, Amen, and praise unto the Lord.

May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised from everlasting to everlasting. All the people said, “Amen” and praised Yahweh.

37 And he left there in charge before the ark of the covenant of the Lord Assaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, at the work of every day on its day,

So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, to serve continually before the ark, as every day's work required.

38 And 'Obed-edom with their brethren, sixty and eight, and 'Obed-edom the son of Jeduthun and Chossah to be gatekeepers;

Obed Edom with those sixty-eight relatives were included. Obed Edom son of Jeduthun, along with Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.

39 And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord, in the high-place that was at Gib'on,

Zadok the priest and his fellow priests were to serve before the tabernacle of Yahweh at the high place in Gibeon.

40 To offer burnt-offerings unto the Lord upon the altar of the burnt-offering continually at morning and at evening, and this in accordance with all that is written in the law of the Lord which he had commanded concerning Israel;

They were to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar for burnt offerings continually morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which he gave as a command to Israel.

41 And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were selected who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because unto everlasting endureth his kindness;

Heman and Jeduthun were with them, together with the rest who were chosen by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

42 And with them, with Heman and Jeduthun, the trumpets and cymbals to play aloud, and the musical instruments of God; and the sons of Jeduthun to be for the service at the gate.

Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of those who played trumpets, cymbals, and the other instruments for the sacred music. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the gate.

43 And all the people went every man to his house; and David turned about to bless his house.

Then all the people returned to their homes, and David returned to bless his own household.