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 pitched for it; and they offered 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 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 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.

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 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:

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.

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.

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

And Benayahu and Jachaziel the priests were with the 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inquire after the Lord and his strength: seek his presence 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 tokens, and the decrees 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 elect.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And which he established unto Jacob as a statute, unto Israel as 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, as the portion 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 men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

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

And when they wandered from one nation to another, 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; yea, he reproved kings for their sake.

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

Saying, “Touch not my 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 ye lands: announce 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].

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

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 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 people are idols: but the Lord hath made the heavens.

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

Majesty and honor 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]!

Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye families of people, ascribe 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.

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.

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 ye lands! Also the world standeth firmly, 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 rejoice, and let the earth be glad; 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, with all that filleth it: 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 forest sing joyfully 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; because unto everlasting endureth his kindness.

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 nations, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, to glorify ourselves 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 the God of Israel from everlasting even unto everlasting. And all the people said, Amen, and praise unto 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.

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,

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, sixty and eight, and 'Obed-edom the son of Jeduthun and Chossah to be gatekeepers;

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 Gib'on,

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 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;

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 selected who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because unto everlasting endureth his kindness;

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, 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.

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 went every man to his house; and David turned about to bless his house.