Beginning

15 And David made himself houses in the City of David, and prepared a place for the Ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.

² Then David said, “No one ought to carry the Ark of God except the Levites. For the LORD has chosen them to bear the Ark of the LORD, and to minister to Him forever.”

³ And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem to bring up the Ark of the LORD to its place which he had ordained for it.

⁴ And David assembled the sons of Aaron and the Levites.

⁵ Of the sons of Kohath were Uriel, the chief, and his brethren (one hundred twenty).

⁶ Of the sons of Merari were Asaiah, the chief, and his brethren (two hundred twenty).

⁷ Of the sons of Gershom were Joel, the chief, and his brethren (one hundred thirty).

⁸ Of the sons of Elizaphan were Shemaiah, the chief, and his brethren (two hundred).

⁹ Of the sons of Hebron were Eliel, the chief, and his brethren (eighty).

¹⁰ Of the sons of Uzziel were Amminadab, the chief, and his brethren (one hundred twelve).

¹¹ And David called Zadok and Abiathar, the Priests. And of the Levites were Uriel, Asaiah and Joel, Shemaiah and Eliel and Amminadab.

¹² And he said to them, “You are the chief fathers of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, and your brethren, and bring up the Ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it.

¹³ “For because you were not there at first, the LORD our God made an outburst among us. For we did not seek Him in proper order.”

¹⁴ So, the Priests and the Levites sanctified themselves, to bring up the Ark of the LORD God of Israel.

¹⁵ And the sons of the Levites bore the Ark of God upon their shoulders with the bars, as Moses had commanded, according to the Word of the LORD.

¹⁶ And David spoke to the chief of the Levites, so that they would appoint some of their brethren to sing with instruments of music, with viols and harps, and cymbals, so that they might make a sound and lift up their voice with joy.

¹⁷ So, the Levites appointed Heman, the son of Joel. And from his brethren came Asaph, the son of Berechiah. And from the sons of Merari (their brethren) came Ethan, the son of Kushaiah.

¹⁸ And with them came their brethren in the second degree: Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Unni, Eliab and Benaiah and Maaseiah and Mattithiah and Elipheleh and Mikneiah and Obed-Edom and Jeiel (the gatekeepers).

¹⁹ So Heman, Asaph and Ethan were singers to make a sound with cymbals of bronze,

²⁰ and Zechariah and Aziel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Unni and Eliab and Maaseiah and Benaiah were to make a sound with viols on Alamoth,

²¹ and Mattithiah and Elipheleh and Mikneiah and Obed-Edom and Jeiel and Azaziah were to make a sound with harps upon Sheminith Jenazzeah.

²² But Chenaniah, the chief of the Levites, was in charge of the music and gave instruction in the sound; for he was skillful.

²³ And Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the Ark.

²⁴ And Shebaniah and Joshaphat and Nethanel and Amasai and Zechariah and Benaiah and Eliezer (the priests) blew with trumpets before the Ark of God. And Obed-Edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the Ark.

²⁵ So, David and the elders of Israel and the captains of thousands went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with joy.

²⁶ And because God helped the Levites who bore the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.

²⁷ And David had on a linen garment, as did all the Levites who bore the Ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah who had the chief charge of the singers. And David had on a linen ephod.

²⁸ Thus, all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant with shouting and sound of cornet and with trumpets and with cymbals, making a sound with viols and with harps.

²⁹ And when the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked out at a window and saw King David dancing and playing. And she despised him in her heart.

16 So, they brought in the Ark of God and set it in the midst of the Tabernacle that David had erected for it. And they offered Burnt Offerings and Peace Offerings before God.

² And when David had finished offering the Burnt Offering and the Peace Offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of the LORD.

³ And he dealt to every one of Israel — both man and woman — to each one a cake of bread and a piece of flesh and a bottle of wine.

⁴ And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the Ark of the LORD and to remember and thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

⁵ Asaph, the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Mattithiah and Eliab and Benaiah and Obed-Edom, also Jeiel, (with instruments: viols and harps) and Asaph (to make a sound with cymbals),

⁶ Benaiah and Jahaziel (priests), with trumpets continually before the Ark of the Covenant of God.

⁷ Then, at that time, David appointed Asaph and his brethren to give the first thanks to the LORD:

⁸ “Praise the LORD! Call upon His Name! Declare His works among the people!

⁹ “Sing to Him! Sing praise to Him! Talk of all His Wonderful works!

¹⁰ “Rejoice in His Holy Name! Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

¹¹ “Seek the LORD and His strength. Seek His Face continually.

¹² “Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the Judgments of His Mouth.

¹³ “O seed of Israel, His servant! O the children of Jacob, His chosen!

¹⁴ “He is the LORD our God! His Judgments are throughout all the Earth.

¹⁵ “Remember His Covenant forever, and the Word which He Commanded to a thousand generations,

¹⁶ “which He made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac,

¹⁷ “and has confirmed to Jacob for a Law, to Israel for an everlasting Covenant,

¹⁸ “saying, ‘To you will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.’

¹⁹ “When you were few in number (yea, a very few) and strangers in it,

²⁰ “and walked around from nation to nation, and from kingdom to another people,

²¹ “He allowed no man to do them wrong, but rebuked kings for their sakes, saying,

²² ‘Do not touch My anointed and do My Prophets no harm.’

²³ “Sing to the LORD all the Earth! Declare His salvation from day to day!

²⁴ “Declare His Glory among the nations and His wonderful works among all people!

²⁵ “For the LORD is great and much to be praised! And He is to be feared above all gods.

²⁶ “For all the gods of the people are idols; but the LORD made the heavens.

²⁷ “Praise and Glory are before Him! Power and beauty are in His place!

²⁸ “Give to the LORD, you families of the people. Give glory to the LORD, and power!

²⁹ “Give to the LORD the glory of His Name! Bring an Offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the glorious Sanctuary!

³⁰ “Tremble before Him, all the Earth! Surely the world shall be firm, and not move.

³¹ “Let the heavens rejoice! And let the Earth be glad! And let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns!’

³² “Let the sea roar and all that is in it! Let the field be joyful and all that is in it!

³³ “Then let the trees of the forest rejoice at the presence of the LORD; for He comes to judge the Earth!

³⁴ “Praise the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever!”

³⁵ “And say, ‘Save us, O God, our salvation! And gather us and deliver us from the heathen, so that we may praise Your Holy Name and glory in Your praise!’

³⁶ “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel forever and ever! And let all people say, ‘So be it!’ and praise the LORD.”

³⁷ Then he left them before the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant (Asaph and his brethren) to minister continually that which was to be done every day before the Ark.

³⁸ And Obed-Edom and his brethren (sixty-eight) and Obed-Edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were gatekeepers.

³⁹ And Zadok the Priest and his brethren, the priests, were before the Tabernacle of the LORD, in the high place that was at Gibeon,

⁴⁰ to offer Burnt Offerings to the LORD, upon the Burnt Offering Altar continually, in the morning and in the evening, according to all that is written in the Law of the LORD, which He Commanded Israel.

⁴¹ And with them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were appointed by names to praise the LORD, because His mercy endures forever.

⁴² And with them were Heman and Jeduthun, to make a sound with the cornets and with the cymbals, with excellent instruments of music. And the sons of Jeduthun were at the gate.

⁴³ And all the people departed, every man to his house. And David returned to bless his house.

17 Now afterward, when David dwelt in his house, he said to Nathan the Prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar trees. But the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant remains under curtains.”

² Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you.”

³ And the same night, the Word of God came to Nathan, saying,

⁴ “Go and tell David, My servant, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.

⁵ “For I have dwelt in no house since the day that I brought out the children of Israel until this day. But I have been from tent to tent, and from habitation to habitation.

⁶ “Therefore, I have walked with all Israel. Have I spoken one word to any of the judges of Israel (whom I Commanded to feed My people) saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar trees?’”’

⁷ “Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of Hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, so that you would be a prince over My people Israel.

⁸ “And I have been with you wherever you have walked and have destroyed all your enemies out of your sight and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the Earth.

⁹ “Also, I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant it, so that they may dwell in their place and no longer move. Nor shall the wicked people trouble them anymore, as at the beginning

¹⁰ “and since the time that I Commanded judges over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Therefore, I say to you that the LORD will build you a House.

¹¹ “And when your days shall be fulfilled, to go with your fathers, then I will raise up your seed after you, who shall be of your sons, and will establish his kingdom.

¹² “He shall build Me a House. And I will establish his throne forever.

¹³ “I will be his father and he shall be my son and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.

¹⁴ “But I will establish him in My House, and in My Kingdom, forever. And his throne shall be established forever.”’”

¹⁵ According to all these words and according to all this vision Nathan spoke to David.

¹⁶ And David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my House, that You have brought me this far?

¹⁷ “Yet You, esteeming this a small thing, O God, have also spoken concerning the house of your servant for a great while, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

¹⁸ “What more can David desire of You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant.

¹⁹ “O LORD, for Your servant’s sake You have done all this great thing, according to Your Heart, to declare all magnificence.

²⁰ “LORD, there is none like You! Nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears!

²¹ “Moreover what one nation on the Earth is like Your people Israel, whose God went to redeem them to be His people, and to make Yourself a Name, and to do great and fearful things by casting out Nations from before Your people, whom You have delivered out of Egypt?

²² “For You have ordained Your people Israel to be Your own people forever. And You, LORD, have become their God.

²³ “Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that You have spoken concerning Your servant, and concerning his house, be confirmed forever. And do as You have said,

²⁴ “and let Your Name be stable and magnified forever, so that it may be said, ‘The LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, is the God of Israel,’ and let the House of David, Your servant, be established before You.

²⁵ “For You, O my God, have revealed to the ear of Your servant that You will build him a House. Therefore, Your servant has been bold to pray before You.

²⁶ “Therefore now, LORD — for You are God, and have spoken this goodness to Your servant —

²⁷ “now, therefore, it has pleased You to bless the House of Your servant, so that it may be before You forever. For You, O LORD, have blessed it. And it shall be blessed forever.”