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1 Chronicles 16
New International Reader's Version
1 Chronicles 16
New International Reader's Version
Serving God in Front of the Ark
16 The ark of God was carried into Jerusalem. It was put in the tent David had set up for it. The priests brought burnt offerings and friendship offerings to God. 2 After David finished sacrificing those offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 He gave to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread. He also gave each one a date cake and a raisin cake.
4 He appointed some of the Levites to serve in front of the ark of the Lord. David wanted them to give honor, thanks and praise to the Lord. He is the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the leader of those Levites. Zechariah was next in rank. Then came Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They played the lyres and harps. Asaph played the cymbals. 6 Benaiah and Jahaziel, the priests, blew the trumpets. They blew them at regular times in front of the ark of the covenant of God.
7 That day was the first time David appointed Asaph and his helpers. He appointed them to give praise to the Lord with these words.
8 Give praise to the Lord. Make his name known.
Tell the nations what he has done.
9 Sing to him. Sing praise to him.
Tell about all the wonderful things he has done.
10 Honor him, because his name is holy.
Let the hearts of those who trust in the Lord be glad.
11 Look to the Lord and to his strength.
Always look to him.
12 Remember the wonderful things he has done.
Remember his miracles and how he judged our enemies.
13 Remember, you his servants, the children of Israel.
Remember, you people of Jacob. Remember, you who are chosen by God.
14 He is the Lord our God.
He judges the whole earth.
15 He will keep his covenant forever.
He will keep his promise for all time to come.
16 He will keep the covenant he made with Abraham.
He will keep the promise he made to Isaac.
17 He made it stand as a law for Jacob.
He made it stand as a covenant for Israel. It will last forever.
18 He said, “I will give you the land of Canaan.
It will belong to you.”
19 At first there weren’t very many of God’s people.
There were only a few. And they were strangers in the land.
20 They wandered from nation to nation.
They wandered from one kingdom to another.
21 But God didn’t allow anyone to treat them badly.
To keep them safe, he gave a command to kings.
22 He said to them, “Do not touch my anointed ones.
Do not harm my prophets.”
23 All you people of the earth, sing to the Lord.
Day after day tell about how he saves us.
24 Tell the nations about his glory.
Tell all people about the wonderful things he has done.
25 The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise.
People should have respect for him as the greatest God of all.
26 All the gods of the nations are like their statues.
They can’t do anything.
But the Lord made the heavens.
27 Glory and majesty are all around him.
Strength and joy are in the place where he lives.
28 Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Praise the Lord for his glory and strength.
29 Praise the Lord for the glory that belongs to him.
Bring an offering and come to him.
Worship the Lord because of his beauty and holiness.
30 All you people of the earth, tremble when you are with him.
The world is firmly set in place. It can’t be moved.
31 Let the heavens be filled with joy. Let the earth be glad.
Let them say among the nations, “The Lord rules!”
32 Let the ocean and everything in it roar.
Let the fields and everything in them be glad.
33 Let the trees in the forest sing with joy.
They will sing before the Lord.
He will judge the people of the world.
34 Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good.
His faithful love continues forever.
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior.
Save us. Bring us back from among the nations.
Then we will give thanks to you, because your name is holy.
We will celebrate by praising you.”
36 Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel,
for ever and ever.
Then all the people said, “Amen!” They also said, “Praise the Lord.”
37 David left Asaph and his helpers to serve in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. They served there at regular times. They did it as they were required to do each day. 38 David also left Obed-Edom and his 68 helpers to serve with them. Obed-Edom and Hosah guarded the gates. Obed-Edom was the son of Jeduthun.
39 David left Zadok the priest and some other priests in front of the holy tent of the Lord. It was at the high place in Gibeon. 40 David left them there to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar every morning and evening. They did it according to everything written in the Law of the Lord. That’s the Law he had given to Israel. 41 Heman and Jeduthun were with the priests. So were the rest of those who had been chosen by name and appointed to serve. They had been chosen to give thanks to the Lord, “because his faithful love continues forever.” 42 It was the duty of Heman and Jeduthun to blow the trumpets. They also had the duty of playing the cymbals and other instruments for the sacred songs. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at one of the gates.
43 All the people left. Everyone went home. And David returned home to bless his family.
1 Chronicles 16
New International Version
1 Chronicles 16
New International Version
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. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed(E) the people in the name of the Lord. 3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins(F) to each Israelite man and woman.
4 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: 5 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, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise(H) to the Lord in this manner:
8 Give praise(I) to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations(J) what he has done.
9 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 Chronicles 16:4 Or petition; or invoke
- 1 Chronicles 16:5 See 15:18,20; Hebrew Jeiel, possibly another name for Jaaziel.
- 1 Chronicles 16:15 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also Psalm 105:8); Hebrew Remember
- 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
- 1 Chronicles 16:29 Or Lord with the splendor of
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.