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].

So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent, which David had pitched for it: and they offered holocausts, 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 made an end of offering holocausts, and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

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

And he divided to all and every one, both men and women, a loaf of bread, and a piece of roasted beef, and flour fried with oil.

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 Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to remember his works, and to glorify, and praise the Lord 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 next after him Zacharias: moreover Jahiel, and Semiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mathathias, and Eliab, and Banaias, and Obededom: and Jehiel over the instruments of psaltery, and harps: and Asaph sounded with cymbals:

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

But Banaias, and Jaziel the priests, to sound the trumpet continually before the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

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

In that day David made Asaph the chief to give praise to the Lord with his brethren.

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

Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make known his doings among the nations.

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

Sing to him, yea, sing praises to him: and relate all his wondrous works.

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

Praise ye his holy name: let the heart I of them rejoice, that seek the Lord.

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

Seek ye the Lord, and his power: seek ye his face evermore.

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 wonderful works, which he hath done: his signs, 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.

O ye seed of Israel his servants, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

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

He is the Lord 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.

Remember for ever 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.

The covenant which he made with Abraham: and his oath to Isaac.

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

And he appointed the same to Jacob for a precept: and to 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: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan: 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 they were but a small number: very few and sojourners in it.

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

And they passed from nation to nation: and from a 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 do them wrong: and reproved kings for their sake.

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

Touch not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets.

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

Sing ye to the Lord, all the earth: shew forth from day to day his salvation.

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 Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

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

For the Lord is great and exceedingly to be praised: and he is to be feared 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 nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.

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

Praise and magnificence are before him: strength and joy in his place.

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

Bring ye to the Lord, O ye families of the nations: bring ye to the Lord glory and empire.

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 to the Lord glory to his name, bring up sacrifice, and come ye in his sight: and adore the Lord in holy becomingness.

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.

Let all the earth be moved at his presence: for he hath founded the world immoveable.

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 the earth be glad: and let them say among the nations: The Lord hath reigned.

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 fields rejoice, and all things that are in them.

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 wood give praise before the Lord: because he is come to judge the earth.

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

Give ye glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy 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 ye: Save us, O God our saviour: and gather us together, and deliver us from the nations, that we may give glory to thy holy name, and may rejoice in singing thy praises.

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 the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity: and let all the people say Amen, and a hymn to God.

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.

So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Asaph and his brethren to minister in the presence of the ark continually day by day, and in their courses.

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 Obededom, with his brethren sixty-eight: and Obededom the son of Idithun, and Hosa he appointed to be porters.

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 Sadoc the priest, and his brethren priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place, which was in Gabaon.

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.

That they should offer holocausts to the Lord upon the altar of holocausts continually, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, 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 after him Heman, and Idithun, and the rest that were chosen, every one by his name to give praise to the Lord: because his mercy 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 Heman and Idithun sounded the trumpet, and played on the cymbals, and all kinds of musical instruments to sing praises to God: and the sons of Idithun he made porters.

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 returned to their houses: and David to bless also his own house.