1 Chronicles 16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Ark Placed in the Tent
16 They brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God.(A) 2 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord, 3 and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat,[a] and a cake of raisins.
4 He appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the chief, and second to him was Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals,(B) 6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving
7 Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by Asaph and his kindred.(C)
8 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.(D)
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually.(E)
12 Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles and the judgments he uttered,(F)
13 O offspring of his servant Israel,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.(G)
15 Remember his covenant forever,
the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,(H)
17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,(I)
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your portion for an inheritance.”
19 When they were few in number,
of little account, and strangers in the land,[b](J)
20 wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account,(K)
22 saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Tell of his salvation from day to day.(L)
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.(M)
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.(N)
27 Honor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.(O)
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
30 tremble before him, all the earth.
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord is king!”(P)
32 Let the sea roar and all that fills it;
let the field exult and everything in it.(Q)
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.(R)
35 Say also,
“Save us, O God of our salvation,
and gather and rescue us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.(S)
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.”
Then all the people said “Amen!” and praised the Lord.(T)
Regular Worship Maintained
37 David[c] left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required,(U) 38 and also Obed-edom and his[d] sixty-eight kinsfolk, while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.(V) 39 And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon,(W) 40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord that he commanded Israel.(X) 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.(Y) 42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.
43 Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.
1 Chronicles 16
International Standard Version
The Ark is Placed in the Tent(A)
16 They brought the Ark of God, placed it within the tent that David had erected, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in the presence of God. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord 3 and distributed a loaf of bread, a date bar, and a raisin bar to every person in Israel—that is, to each man and to each woman. 4 In the presence of the ark of the Lord, he appointed some of the descendants of Levi to minister continually by remembering,[a] giving thanks, and praising the Lord God of Israel. 5 Their director Asaph played cymbals, and next to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who played harps and lyres. 6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played the trumpets continually in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of God.
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving(B)
7 On that very day, David composed this psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord just for[b] Asaph and his companions:[c]
8 Give thanks to the Lord,
calling on his name.
Make what he has done known among the people.
9 Sing to him,
sing psalms to him,
and think[d] about all of his miraculous deeds.
10 Find joy in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who keep on seeking the Lord rejoice.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength.
Always look to him.[e]
12 Keep remembering the awesome deeds that he has done,
along with his miracles
and the rulings that he has handed down,
13 you descendants of his servant Israel,
you descendants of Jacob,
the ones he has chosen.
14 He is the Lord our God.
His justice is in all of the land.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
his promise that he made to the thousandth generation,
16 the covenant[f] that he made with Abraham,
and the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob in the form of an ordinance,
an eternal covenant to Israel,
18 when he told Israel,
“To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your joyful inheritance.”[g]
19 When you were few in number—
very few, and strangers at that—
20 wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another,
21 he did not let anyone wrong them.
He warned kings on their behalf,
22 “Don’t touch my chosen ones,
and don’t hurt my prophets!”
23 Let all the earth sing to the Lord!
Day after day proclaim his deliverance![h]
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
and his miraculous deeds to all people,
25 because the Lord is great,
and he is praised greatly!
He is feared above every god.
26 For all of the gods of the other[i] nations are mere[j] idols,
but the Lord fashioned the heavens!
27 Splendor and majesty surround him,
and strength and joy fill his palace.[k]
28 Let the families of earth recognize the Lord—
that he is glorious and powerful.
29 Recognize the glory that is due the Lord!
Bring your offering,
and come into his presence,
worshiping the Lord in all of his holy splendor.
30 Tremble in his presence, all the earth!
Surely the inhabited world[l] stands firm—
it cannot be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice,
and the earth be glad!
Say to the nations,
“The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar
along with everything that fills it!
Let the fields exult,
along with everything in them!
33 Then let the trees in the forest sing out in praise,
for the Lord is coming to judge the world.
34 Give thanks to the Lord,
because he is good
and because his gracious love is eternal!
35 Call out,[m] “Save us, God, you who delivers us!
Gather us and rescue us from the nations!”
We will thank your holy name
and rejoice as we praise you!
36 Praise the Lord God of Israel,
who lives from eternity to eternity!
Then all of the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the Lord.
David Establishes Regular Worship
37 Later David[n] left the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord so Asaph and his fellow descendants of Levi could serve the ark there continually each day, doing whatever was required. 38 Obed-edom and 68 of his relatives remained also, with Jeduthun’s son Obed-edom and Hosah serving as trustees.[o] 39 He left Zadok the priest and his relatives at the Tent of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon, where they ministered in the Lord’s presence, 40 sacrificing the regular burnt offerings regularly each morning and evening to the Lord on the altar dedicated to that purpose, doing everything written in the Law of the Lord, just as he had commanded Israel.
41 David[p] also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, because “his gracious love is eternal.”[q] 42 They accompanied their songs of praise to God with trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments while Jeduthun’s children served as trustees.[r] 43 After this, everyone left for their own homes and David went home to bless his own household.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 16:4 Lit. invoking; i.e. to speak to God in light of his past works
- 1 Chronicles 16:7 Lit. Lord in the hand of
- 1 Chronicles 16:7 Lit. brothers; i.e. his fellow descendants of Levi
- 1 Chronicles 16:9 Or and talk
- 1 Chronicles 16:11 Lit. to his face
- 1 Chronicles 16:16 The Heb. lacks the covenant
- 1 Chronicles 16:18 Or your special portion
- 1 Chronicles 16:23 Or day preach his salvation
- 1 Chronicles 16:26 The Heb. lacks other
- 1 Chronicles 16:26 The Heb. lacks mere
- 1 Chronicles 16:27 Lit. place
- 1 Chronicles 16:30 Or the inhabitants of the world
- 1 Chronicles 16:35 Lit. Say
- 1 Chronicles 16:37 Lit. he
- 1 Chronicles 16:38 Or gatekeepers
- 1 Chronicles 16:41 Lit. He
- 1 Chronicles 16:41 Cf. v.34
- 1 Chronicles 16:42 Or gatekeepers
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