Beginning
The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem
15 Then David made houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and (A)pitched a tent for it. 2 And David said, “(B)No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for Yahweh chose them to carry the ark of [a]God and to minister to Him forever.” 3 Then (C)David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of Yahweh (D)to its place which he had prepared for it. 4 And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and (E)the Levites:
5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his [b]relatives;
6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives;
7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives;
8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and 200 of his relatives;
9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and 80 of his relatives;
10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.
11 Then David called for (F)Zadok and (G)Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites; (H)set yourselves apart as holy, both you and your relatives, that you may bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, (I)to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 (J)Because you did not carry it at the first, Yahweh our God broke out against us, for we did not seek Him according to the legal judgment.” 14 (K)So the priests and the Levites set themselves apart as holy to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 15 And the sons of (L)the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of Yahweh.
16 Then David said to the chiefs of the Levites (M)to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise a sound of gladness. 17 So (N)the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, 18 and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, [c]Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; 20 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with [d]harps set according to (O)alamoth; 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to lead with [e]lyres set according to (P)the sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the [f]singing; he gave instruction in singing because he had understanding. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, (Q)blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark.
25 (R)So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the commanders over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from (S)the house of Obed-edom with gladness. 26 Now this happened because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. And they sacrificed (T)seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. (U)David also wore a linen ephod. 28 Thus all Israel was bringing up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, and with sound of the [g]horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps, and lyres.
29 Now it happened as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, that (V)Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.
A Tent for the Ark
16 And they brought in the ark of God and (W)placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they brought burnt offerings and peace offerings near before God. 2 Then David completed offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings. And he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh. 3 And he apportioned to everyone of Israel, both men and women, to everyone a loaf of bread and a portion of meat and a raisin cake.
4 And he made some of the Levites ministers before the ark of Yahweh, even to bring remembrance and to thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then [h]Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 Then on that day David (X)first assigned [i]Asaph and his [j]relatives to give thanks to Yahweh.
Song of Thanksgiving
8 (Y)Oh give thanks to Yahweh, call upon His name;
(Z)Make known His acts among the peoples.
9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Muse on all His wondrous deeds.
10 Boast in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh be glad.
11 (AA)Inquire of Yahweh and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
12 (AB)Remember His wondrous deeds which He has done,
(AC)His miraculous signs and the judgments uttered by His mouth,
13 O seed of Israel His servant,
O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14 He is Yahweh our God;
(AD)His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded for a thousand generations,
16 (AE)Which He cut with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.
17 (AF)Then He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, “(AG)To you I will give the land of Canaan,
As the portion of your inheritance,”
19 (AH)When you were only a few men in number,
Of little account, and sojourners in it,
20 And they wandered about from nation to nation,
And from one kingdom to another people,
21 He permitted no man to oppress them,
And (AI)He reproved kings for their sakes,
22 “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And (AJ)against My prophets do no evil.”
23 (AK)Sing to Yahweh, all the earth;
Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.
24 Recount His glory among the nations,
His wondrous deeds among all the peoples.
25 For (AL)great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised;
And He is [k](AM)more [l]fearsome than all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are [m](AN)idols,
(AO)But Yahweh made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
28 Ascribe to Yahweh, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of His name;
Lift up [n]an offering, and come before Him;
(AP)Worship Yahweh in the splendor of holiness.
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken.
31 (AQ)Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “(AR)Yahweh reigns.”
32 (AS)Let the sea [o]roar, as well as its fullness;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Yahweh;
For He is coming to judge the earth.
34 (AT)Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness endures forever.
35 (AU)Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
And gather us and deliver us from among the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name
And revel in Your praise.”
36 (AV)Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people (AW)said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh.
Ministering Before the Ark
37 So he left behind Asaph and his [p]relatives there (AX)before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to minister before the ark continually, (AY)as every day’s work required; 38 and (AZ)Obed-edom with [q]his 68 relatives; Obed-edom, also the son of Jeduthun, and (BA)Hosah as gatekeepers. 39 Now he left behind (BB)Zadok the priest and his [r]relatives the priests (BC)before the [s]tabernacle of Yahweh in the high place, which was at Gibeon, 40 to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, (BD)even according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which He commanded Israel. 41 And with them were (BE)Heman and Jeduthun, and (BF)the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to (BG)give thanks to Yahweh, because His lovingkindness endures forever. 42 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should sound aloud, and with instruments for (BH)the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.
43 (BI)Then all the people went each to his house, and David returned to bless his household.
The Ark of God Inhabits a Tent
17 (BJ)Now it happened when David inhabited his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I inhabit a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is under tent curtains.” 2 So Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
3 Now it happened in the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 “Go and say to David My servant, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “(BK)You shall not build Me a house to inhabit; 5 for I have not inhabited a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, (BL)but I have been from tent to tent and from one [t]dwelling place to another. 6 Wherever I have gone about with all Israel, did I speak a word (BM)with even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’
David’s House Will Be Established Forever
7 So now, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 8 And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and not be disturbed again; and the [u]unrighteous will not waste them anymore as formerly, 10 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies.
And I tell you that Yahweh will build a house for you. 11 And it will be that when your days are fulfilled to go to be with your fathers, I will raise up one of your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 (BN)I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; and I will not remove My lovingkindness from him, (BO)as I removed it from him who was before you. 14 But I will cause him to stand 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, so Nathan spoke to David.
David Magnifies Yahweh’s Name
16 Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh and said, “(BP)Who am I, O Yahweh God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far? 17 And this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of the house of Your slave concerning the distant future, and have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high degree, O Yahweh God. 18 Again what more can David say to You concerning the glory bestowed on Your slave? You know Your slave. 19 O Yahweh, (BQ)for the sake of Your slave, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things. 20 O Yahweh, there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 And what one nation in the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make You a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed out of Egypt? 22 (BR)Yet You gave Your people Israel to be Your own people forever, and You, O Yahweh, have become their God.
23 “So now, O Yahweh, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your slave and concerning his house [v]endure forever, and do as You have spoken, 24 that Your name [w]endure and be magnified forever, by saying, ‘Yahweh of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Your [x]servant is established before You.’ 25 For You, O my God, have revealed in the hearing of Your slave that You will build for him a house; therefore Your slave has found courage to pray before You. 26 So now, O Yahweh, You are God, and You have [y]promised this good thing to Your slave. 27 So now, You have been pleased to bless the house of Your slave, that it may be forever before You. For You, O Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”
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