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 that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices 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 the burnt offerings and the 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 dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon [of wine].

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 minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank 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 to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

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

Benaiah also 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 thank the LORD into the hand of 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 the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

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

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

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

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

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

Seek the LORD 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 marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, 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 servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

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.

Be ye mindful always 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.

[Even of the covenant] 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 hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, [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, 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 but few, even a few, and strangers in it.

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

And [when] 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 do them wrong: yea, he 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, 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 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 heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.

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

For great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also [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 people [are] idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

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

Glory and honour [are] in his presence; strength and gladness [are] in his place.

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

Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD 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 the LORD the glory [due] unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

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.

Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

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

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let [men] say among the nations, The LORD 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 fields rejoice, 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 wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.

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

O give thanks unto 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 of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, [and] glory 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] the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

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 before the ark continually, as every day’s work 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 with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah [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 Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD 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 burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and [to do] 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 with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks 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 with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun [were] 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 departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.