16 眾人將上帝的約櫃抬進去,安放在大衛所搭的帳篷裡,然後在上帝面前獻上燔祭和平安祭。 大衛獻上燔祭和平安祭後,就奉耶和華的名給民眾祝福, 又給以色列男女每人一個餅、一塊肉和一個葡萄餅。

大衛指派一些利未人在耶和華的約櫃前事奉,頌揚、稱謝和讚美以色列的上帝耶和華。 為首的是亞薩,其次是撒迦利雅、雅薛、示米拉末、耶歇、瑪他提雅、以利押、比拿雅、俄別·以東和耶利,他們鼓瑟彈琴,亞薩敲鈸。 比拿雅和雅哈悉兩位祭司在上帝的約櫃前吹號。

大衛的頌歌

那一天,大衛初次指派亞薩和他的親族唱詩歌頌耶和華,說:

「你們要稱謝耶和華,
呼求祂的名,
在列邦傳揚祂的作為。
要歌頌、讚美祂,
述說祂一切奇妙的作為。
10 要以祂的聖名為榮,
願尋求耶和華的人都歡欣。
11 要尋求耶和華和祂的能力,
時常來到祂面前。
12-13 祂僕人以色列的後裔啊,
祂所揀選的雅各的子孫啊,
要記住祂所行的神蹟奇事和祂口中的判詞。

14 「祂是我們的上帝耶和華,
祂在普天下施行審判。
15 你們要永遠銘記祂的約,
要思想祂的應許直到千代,
16 就是祂與亞伯拉罕所立的約,
向以撒所起的誓。
17 祂將這約定為律例賜給雅各,
定為永遠的約賜給以色列。
18 祂說,『我必把迦南賜給你,
作為你的產業。』

19 「那時他們人丁稀少,
在當地寄居,
20 他們在異國他鄉流離飄零。
21 耶和華不容人壓迫他們,
還為他們的緣故責備君王,
22 說,『不可難為我膏立的人,
也不可傷害我的先知。』

23 「普天下都要歌頌耶和華,
要天天傳揚祂的救恩;
24 要在列國述說祂的榮耀,
在萬民中述說祂的奇妙作為。
25 因為耶和華無比偉大,
當受至高的頌揚;
祂超越一切神明,
當受敬畏。
26 列邦的神明都是假的,
唯獨耶和華創造了諸天。
27 祂尊貴威嚴,
祂的聖所充滿能力和喜樂。

28 「萬族萬民啊,
要把榮耀和能力歸給耶和華,
歸給耶和華!
29 要將耶和華當得的榮耀歸給祂,
要將供物獻給祂,
要穿上聖潔的衣服敬拜祂。
30 普天下要在祂面前戰抖;
祂堅立世界,使它不致搖動。
31 願天歡喜,願地快樂;
願他們向列國宣告,
『耶和華是王!』
32 願海洋和其中的萬物都歡呼,
願田野和其中的一切都歡騰!
33 那時,林中的樹木都要在耶和華面前歡唱,
因為祂要來審判天下。
34 要稱謝耶和華,
因為祂是美善的,
祂的慈愛永遠長存!

35 「要說,『拯救我們的上帝啊,
求你救我們,招聚我們,
從列國把我們救出來,
我們好稱謝你的聖名,
以讚美你為榮。』
36 從亙古到永遠,
以色列的上帝耶和華當受稱頌!」
眾民都說:「阿們」,
並讚美耶和華。

分派事奉的人員

37 大衛派亞薩及其親族天天在約櫃前事奉耶和華,盡當盡的職分; 38 又派俄別·以東及其六十八位親族、何薩和耶杜頓的兒子俄別·以東守門; 39 並派祭司撒督及其他祭司在基遍高地的耶和華的聖幕前供職, 40 按照耶和華在律法書上對以色列人的吩咐,每日早晚在祭壇上獻燔祭給耶和華。 41 與他們一同供職的有希幔、耶杜頓和其他人,他們被特別選出來稱謝上帝,因為祂有永恆的慈愛。 42 希幔和耶杜頓負責用號、鈸及其他樂器伴奏歌頌上帝。耶杜頓的子孫負責守門。 43 於是,眾民各自回家,大衛也回去為家人祝福。

献祭与祝福

16 他们把 神的约柜抬了进去,安放在大卫为它所搭的会幕中间,然后在 神面前献上了燔祭和平安祭。 大卫献上了燔祭和平安祭以后,就奉耶和华的名给人民祝福。 他又分给以色列众人,无论男女,每人一个饼、一块肉、一个葡萄饼。

利未人在约柜前的职务

大卫派了一部分利未人,在耶和华的约柜前事奉、颂扬、称谢和赞美耶和华以色列的 神。 领导的人是亚萨,其次是撒迦利雅、耶利、示米拉末、耶歇、玛他提雅、以利押、比拿雅、俄别.以东和耶利,他们鼓瑟弹琴,亚萨敲打响钹。 比拿雅和雅哈悉两位祭司在 神的约柜前不住地吹号。

大卫颂赞耶和华之歌(A)

那一天,大卫初次指定亚萨和他的亲族,以诗歌称谢耶和华,说:

“你们要称谢耶和华,呼求他的名,

在万民中宣扬他的作为。

要向他歌唱,向他颂扬,

述说他一切奇妙的作为。

10 要以他的圣名为荣,

愿寻求耶和华的人,心中喜乐。

11 要寻求耶和华和他的能力,

常常寻求他的面。

12-13 他的仆人以色列的后裔啊,

他所拣选的雅各的子孙啊,

你们要记念他奇妙的作为、他的奇事和他口中的判语。

14 他是耶和华我们的 神,

他的判语达到全地。

15 你们要记念他的约,直到永远;

不可忘记他吩咐的话,直到千代。

16 就是他与亚伯拉罕所立的约,

他向以撒所起的誓。

17 他把这约向雅各定为律例,

向以色列定为永约,

18 说:‘我必把迦南地赐给你,

作你们的产业的分。

19 那时你们人丁单薄,数目很少,

又是在那地作寄居的。’

20 他们从这国走到那国,

从一族走到另一族。

21 耶和华不容许任何人欺压他们,

曾为了他们的缘故责备君王,

22 说:‘不可伤害我所膏的人,

不可恶待我的先知。’

23 全地都要向耶和华歌唱,

天天传扬他的救恩。

24 在列国中述说他的荣耀,

在万民中述说他奇妙的作为。

25 因为耶和华是伟大的,当受极大的赞美;

他当受敬畏,远在万神之上。

26 万民的偶像算不得甚么,

唯独耶和华创造诸天。

27 尊荣和威严在他面前,

能力和欢乐在他的圣所。

28 万族万民啊,你们要归给耶和华,

要把荣耀和能力归给耶和华。

29 要把耶和华的名应得的荣耀归给他,

拿着礼物到他面前来,

要以圣洁的装饰敬拜耶和华。

30 全地要在他面前战栗;

他使世界坚定,不致摇动。

31 愿天欢喜,愿地欢呼,

愿人在万国中说:‘耶和华作王了!’

32 愿海和充满海中的都澎湃,

愿田和田中的一切都欢欣。

33 那时树林中的树木,

必在耶和华面前欢呼,

因为他来要审判全地。

34 你们要称谢耶和华,因他是良善的,

他的慈爱永远常存。

35 你们要说:‘拯救我们的 神啊,求你拯救我们,

招聚我们,从万国中救我们出来,

好使我们称谢你的圣名,

以赞美你为夸耀。’

36 耶和华以色列的 神是应当称颂的,

从永远直到永远。”

全体人民都说阿们,并且赞美耶和华。

指派不同的事奉人员

37 于是在那里,就是耶和华的约柜前,大卫留下亚萨和他的亲族,照着每日的本分,在约柜前不断地事奉。 38 又留下俄别.以东和他们的亲族六十八人,以及耶杜顿的儿子俄别.以东和何萨作守门的。 39 又留下撒督祭司和他的亲族,都是作祭司的。在基遍的高地耶和华的帐幕前, 40 每日早晚不住地在燔祭坛上,把燔祭献给耶和华,全是照着耶和华吩咐以色列人的律法书上所写的。 41 和他们一起的有希幔、耶杜顿和其余被选出,有记名的人,都称谢耶和华,因为他的慈爱永远常存。 42 希幔、耶杜顿和他们一起吹号敲钹,以及演奏各种乐器,大声歌颂 神。耶杜顿的子孙负责守门。 43 于是众民都回去,各人回自己的家;大卫也回去给自己的家人祝福。

16 They brought in God’s chest and placed it inside the tent David had pitched for it. Then they brought entirely burned offerings and well-being sacrifices before God. When David had finished offering the entirely burned offerings and the well-being sacrifices, he blessed the people in the Lord’s name and distributed a loaf of bread, a piece of meat,[a] and a raisin cake to every Israelite man and woman.

David establishes worship

David appointed some of the Levites to serve before the Lord’s chest in order to remember, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, Israel’s God: Asaph was the leader, and Zechariah his assistant; also Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres; Asaph sounding the cymbals; and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blowing trumpets regularly before the chest containing God’s covenant. On the same day, for the first time, David ordered Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord.

David’s song of praise

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
    make his deeds known to all people!
Sing to God, sing praises to him;
    dwell on all his wondrous works!
10 Give praise to God’s holy name!
    Let the hearts of all those seeking the Lord rejoice!
11 Pursue the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always!
12 Remember the wondrous works he has done,
    all his marvelous works,
    and the justice he declared—
13         you who are the offspring of Israel, his servant,
        and the children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 The Lord—he is our God.
    His justice is everywhere throughout the whole world.
15 God remembers[b] his covenant forever,
    the word he commanded to a thousand generations,
16     which he made with Abraham,
        the solemn pledge he swore to Isaac.
17     God set it up as binding law for Jacob,
        as an eternal covenant for Israel,
18         promising, “I hereby give you the land of Canaan
        as your allotted inheritance.”
19 When they[c] were few in number—
    insignificant, just immigrants—
20     wandering from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to the next,
21         God didn’t let anyone oppress them.
        God punished kings for their sake:
22 “Don’t touch my anointed ones;
    don’t harm my prophets!”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
    Share the news of his saving work every single day!
24 Declare God’s glory among the nations;
    declare his wondrous works among all people
25         because the Lord is great and so worthy of praise.
He is awesome beyond all other gods
26     because all the gods of the nations are just idols,
        but it is the Lord who created heaven!
27 Greatness and grandeur are in front of him;
    strength and joy are in his place.
28 Give to the Lord, all families of the nations—
    give to the Lord glory and power!
29     Give to the Lord the glory due his name!
        Bring gifts! Enter his presence!
        Bow down to the Lord
        in his holy splendor!
30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
    Yes, he set the world firmly in place;[d]
    it won’t be shaken.
31 Let heaven celebrate!
    Let the earth rejoice!
    Let the nations say, “The Lord rules!”
32 Let the sea and everything in it roar!
    Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate!
33 Then the trees of the forest will shout out joyfully
    before the Lord, because he is coming
    to establish justice on earth!
34 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
    because his faithful love endures forever.
35 Say: “Save us, God, our savior!
    Gather us! Deliver us from among the nations
        so we can give thanks to your holy name
        and rejoice in your praise.”
36 Bless the Lord, Israel’s God,
    from forever in the past to forever always.
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
    Praise the Lord!

37 Then David placed Asaph and his relatives, together with Obed-edom and sixty-eight of his relatives, to minister there continually before the chest containing the Lord’s covenant, following the routines required on each day. 38 Obed-edom, Jeduthun’s son, and Hosah served as gatekeepers. 39 David also placed the priest Zadok and his other priestly relatives at the Lord’s dwelling at the shrine in Gibeon. 40 They were to offer continually, both morning and evening, entirely burned offerings to the Lord on the altar for entirely burned offerings, following the written requirements in the Lord’s Instruction, which he had given Israel. 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, because his faithful love lasts forever. 42 With them were also[e] the trumpets and the cymbals for the musicians and the instruments for God’s songs. Jeduthun’s family was at the gate. 43 Then all of the people left for their homes. And David returned to bless his household.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 16:3 Cf LXX, Syr, Vulg; Heb uncertain
  2. 1 Chronicles 16:15 LXX; MT Remember
  3. 1 Chronicles 16:19 LXX, Vulg; MT when you were
  4. 1 Chronicles 16:30 LXX; MT the world is firmly established
  5. 1 Chronicles 16:42 LXX; MT adds Heman and Jeduthun.

Ministering Before the Ark(A)(B)(C)

16 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched(D) for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed(E) the people in the name of the Lord. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins(F) to each Israelite man and woman.

He appointed some of the Levites to minister(G) before the ark of the Lord, to extol,[a] thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel,[b] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise(H) to the Lord in this manner:

Give praise(I) to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations(J) what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise(K) to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;(L)
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek(M) his face always.

12 Remember(N) the wonders(O) he has done,
    his miracles,(P) and the judgments he pronounced,
13 you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
    his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
14 He is the Lord our God;
    his judgments(Q) are in all the earth.

15 He remembers[c](R) his covenant forever,
    the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant(S) he made with Abraham,
    the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob(T) as a decree,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18 “To you I will give the land of Canaan(U)
    as the portion you will inherit.”

19 When they were but few in number,(V)
    few indeed, and strangers in it,
20 they[d] wandered(W) from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another.
21 He allowed no one to oppress them;
    for their sake he rebuked kings:(X)
22 “Do not touch my anointed ones;
    do my prophets(Y) no harm.”

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory(Z) among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(AA)
    he is to be feared(AB) above all gods.(AC)
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.(AD)
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

28 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.(AE)
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;(AF)
    bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[e] holiness.(AG)
30     Tremble(AH) before him, all the earth!
    The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.(AI)

31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;(AJ)
    let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!(AK)
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;(AL)
    let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees(AM) of the forest sing,
    let them sing for joy before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge(AN) the earth.

34 Give thanks(AO) to the Lord, for he is good;(AP)
    his love endures forever.(AQ)
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;(AR)
    gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
    and glory in your praise.”
36 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(AS)
    from everlasting to everlasting.

Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

37 David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister there regularly, according to each day’s requirements.(AT) 38 He also left Obed-Edom(AU) and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah,(AV) were gatekeepers.

39 David left Zadok(AW) the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon(AX) 40 to present burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law(AY) of the Lord, which he had given Israel. 41 With them were Heman(AZ) and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, “for his love endures forever.” 42 Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song.(BA) The sons of Jeduthun(BB) were stationed at the gate.

43 Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 16:4 Or petition; or invoke
  2. 1 Chronicles 16:5 See 15:18,20; Hebrew Jeiel, possibly another name for Jaaziel.
  3. 1 Chronicles 16:15 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also Psalm 105:8); Hebrew Remember
  4. 1 Chronicles 16:20 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 105:12); most Hebrew manuscripts inherit, / 19 though you are but few in number, / few indeed, and strangers in it.” / 20 They
  5. 1 Chronicles 16:29 Or Lord with the splendor of