1 Chronicles 16

1So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

2And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

3And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

4And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

5Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;footnote a

6Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

7Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

8Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

9Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

10Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

11Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

12Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

13O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

15Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

16Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;

17And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

18Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;footnote b

19When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.footnote c

20And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;

21He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

22Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

23Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

24Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.

25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.

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

27Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.

28Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

29Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

30Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.

32Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.

33Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.

34O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

35And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

36Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

37So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required:

38And Obed-edom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:

39And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,

40To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;footnote d

41And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever;

42And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.footnote e

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

A Tent for the Ark

1So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3Then he distributed to every man and woman of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake,footnote a and a raisin cake.

4David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. 5Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals 6and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

David’s Psalms of Thanksgiving

7On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this song of thanksgiving to the LORD:

8“Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name;make known His deeds among the nations. 9Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;tell of all His wonders. 10Glory in His holy name;let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 11Seek out the LORD and His strength;seek His face always. 12Remember the wonders He has done,His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced, 13O offspring of His servant Israel,O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

14He is the LORD our God;His judgments carry throughout the earth. 15Rememberfootnote bHis covenant forever,the word He ordained for a thousand generations— 16the covenant He made with Abraham,and the oath He swore to Isaac. 17He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,to Israel as an everlasting covenant: 18‘I will give you the land of Canaanas the portion of your inheritance.’

19When they were few in number,few indeed, and strangers in the land, 20they wandered from nation to nation,from one kingdom to another. 21He let no man oppress them;He rebuked kings on their behalf: 22‘Do not touch My anointed ones!Do no harm to My prophets!’

Sing to the LORD, All the Earth

23Sing to the LORD, all the earth.Proclaim His salvation day after day. 24Declare His glory among the nations,His wonders among all peoples.

25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;He is to be feared above all gods. 26For all the gods of the nations are idols,but it is the LORD who made the heavens. 27Splendor and majesty are before Him;strength and joy fill His dwelling.

28Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations,ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;bring an offering and come before Him.Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; 30tremble before Him, all the earth.The world is firmly established;it cannot be moved.

31Let the heavens be glad,and the earth rejoice.Let them say among the nations,‘The LORD reigns!’ 32Let the sea resound,and all that fills it;let the fields exult,and all that is in them. 33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD,for He is coming to judge the earth.

34Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;His loving devotionfootnote cendures forever. 35Then cry out: ‘Save us, O God of our salvation;gather and deliver us from the nations,that we may give thanks to Your holy name,that we may glory in Your praise.’

36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,from everlasting to everlasting.”Then all the people said, “Amen!” and “Praise the LORD!”

Worship before the Ark

37So David left Asaph and his associates there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister there regularly according to the daily requirements, 38along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.

39And David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon 40to regularly present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offerings, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the Law of the LORD, which He had commanded Israel to keep. 41With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “His loving devotion endures forever.”

42Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God.footnote d And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

43Then all the people departed for their homes, and David returned home to bless his household.