1 Chronicles 16

1 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].

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

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

And when David had ended offering up the burnt-offerings and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah.

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

And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread and a measure [of wine] and a raisin-cake.

4 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.

And he appointed certain of the Levites to do the service before the ark of Jehovah, and to celebrate, and to thank and praise Jehovah the God of Israel:

5 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.

Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with instruments of lutes and with harps; and Asaph sounding with cymbals;

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

and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.

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

Then on that day David delivered first [this psalm] to give thanks to Jehovah through Asaph and his brethren.

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

Give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known his acts among the peoples.

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

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him; Meditate upon all his wondrous works.

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

Glory in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah.

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

Seek Jehovah and his strength, Seek his face continually;

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

Remember his wondrous works which he hath done; His miracles, and the judgments of his mouth:

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

Ye seed of Israel his servant, Ye sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.

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

He, Jehovah, is our God; His judgments are in all the earth.

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

Be ye ever mindful of his covenant, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations, —

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

Which he made with Abraham, And of his oath unto Isaac;

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

And he confirmed it unto Jacob for a statute, Unto Israel for an everlasting covenant,

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

Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance;

19 [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);

When ye were a few men in number, Of small account, and strangers in it.

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

And they went from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people.

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

He suffered no man to oppress them, And reproved kings for their sakes,

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

[Saying, ] Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.

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

Sing unto Jehovah, all the earth; Publish his salvation from day to day.

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

Declare his glory among the nations, His wondrous works among all peoples.

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

For Jehovah is great, and exceedingly to be praised; And he is terrible above all gods.

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

For all the gods of the peoples are idols; But Jehovah made the heavens.

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

Majesty and splendour are before him; Strength and gladness in his place.

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

Give unto Jehovah, ye families of peoples, Give unto Jehovah glory and strength!

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

Give unto Jehovah the glory of his name! Bring an oblation, and come before him: Worship Jehovah in holy splendour.

30 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.

Tremble before him, all the earth: The world also is established, it shall not be moved.

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

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; And let them say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth!

32 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.

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; Let the field exult, and all that is therein.

33 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.

Then shall the trees of the forest sing out at the presence of Jehovah, For he cometh to judge the earth.

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

Give thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good; For his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever.

35 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.”

And say, Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us, and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, To triumph in thy praise.

36 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.

Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, from eternity and to eternity! And all the people said, Amen! and praised Jehovah.

37 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.

And he left there, before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, Asaph and his brethren, to do the service before the ark continually, as every day's duty required;

38 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].

and Obed-Edom, and their brethren, sixty-eight; Obed-Edom also, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as doorkeepers.

39 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].

And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Jehovah in the high place that was at Gibeon,

40 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.

to offer up burnt-offerings to Jehovah on the altar of burnt-offering continually, morning and evening, and according to all that is written in the law of Jehovah, which he commanded Israel;

41 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.

and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to Jehovah, because his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;

42 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].

and with them, [with] Heman and Jeduthun, trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud; and the musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were at the gate.

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

And all the people departed every one to his house; and David returned to bless his household.