Open English Translation 1 CHR Chapter 16

16 Then they brought in the God’s box and put it in the middle of the tent that David had erected for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in front of God. 2 When David finished presenting the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in Yahweh’s name. 3 Then he distributed a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake, to each man and woman in Yisrael.

4 Then David appointed some Levites to minister in front of Yahweh’s box and to commemorate and to thank and to praise Yisrael’s God Yahweh. 5 Asaf was their leader with Zekaryah as his assistant. The other Levites who helped were Yeiel, Shemiramot, Yehiel, Mattityah, Eliav, Benayah, Oved-Edom, and Yeiel. They played harps and lyres, and Asaph played cymbals. 6 Benayah and Yahaziel the priests regularly blew trumpets regularly in front the box containing God’s agreement.

7 On that day, David first gave Asaf and his helpers this song to praise Yahweh:

8 Give thanks to Yahweh and use his name when calling out for help.

→Tell all the other nations about what he’s done for you all.

9 Sing to him and make music to him.

→Tell everyone about all the wonderful things that he’s done.

10 Boast about his untarnished reputation.

→Those who follow Yahweh should celebrate.

11 Ask Yahweh to help you and give you his strength.

≈Always be asking for his direction.

12 Remember the wonderful things that he’s done—

≈his miracles and how he punished those who deserved it.

13 You descendants of his servant Yisrael,

≈you descendants of Yakov, the one who he chose.

14 He is our God, Yahweh.

≈He judges the entire world.

15 Remember his agreement forever—

≈the instructions that he gave to a thousand generations.

16 The agreement that he made with Abraham,[ref]

≈and his promise to Yitshak.

17 He established it as a law to Yakov[ref]—

≈to Yisrael as an eternal agreement

18 saying, “I’ll give the Canaan region to you

≈your portion that will then be your inheritance.”

19 When you were still a small group,

≈insignificant, and strangers in the land,

20 and they wandered back and forth from nation to nation,

≈and from one kingdom to another.

21 God didn’t permit anyone to oppress them,[ref]

≈and he rebuked kings on their behalf:

22 “Don’t attack my chosen people,

≈and don’t harm my prophets.”

23 Sing to Yahweh everybody.

→Every day tell others that he’s saved us.

24 Tell the other nations about his power.

≈Tell all the people groups about the wonderful things he’s done,

25 because Yahweh is great and deserves a lot of praise,

≈and he should be revered more than any other god.

26 All those gods of the other people groups are worthless,

^but it was Yahweh who created the heavens.

27 His presence emanates splendour and grandeur,

≈and strength and happiness radiate from his place.

28 You people in nations all over the world, praise Yahweh—

praise him for his splendour and his strength.

29 Praise Yahweh for his great reputation.

Bring an offering and come into his presence.

≈Worship Yahweh in his splendour and purity.

30 Let the entire planet tremble if he comes.

The world is firmly established—it can’t be shaken around.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth shout in celebration,

and let people in all the nations say, “Yahweh is king.”

32 Let the oceans roar along with all the creatures in them.

Let the countryside celebrate along with all the creatures that live there.

33 Then the trees in the forests should shout happily when Yahweh comes,

because he is coming to judge the world.

34 Give thanks to Yahweh, because he’s good,[ref]

because his loyal commitment lasts forever.

35 Then say, “Rescue us, God who’s our saviour,

and bring us together and save us from attacks by other nations,

so that we’ll thank you for your untarnished reputation,

and boast about your praiseworthy actions.”

36 Blessed be Yisrael’s God Yahweh,

in eternity past and eternity to come.

And all the people said, “Amen” and praised Yahweh.

37 Then David went away from where Yahweh’s box had been placed. Asaph and his brothers were left to minister in front of the box continually—each day depending on the occasion, 38 along with Oved-Edom and sixty-eight relative. Oved-Edom (Yedutun’s son) and Hosah, were gatekeepers.

39 Also Tsadok the priest and his relatives the priests were at the front of Yahweh’s tabernacle at the high place which was in Gibeon 40 to present burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually, morning and evening, following all the instructions that Yahweh had given Yisrael and had been written down. 41 With them were Heman and Yedutun and the rest of those chosen who were designated by name to give thanks to Yahweh, because his loyal commitment lasts forever. 42 Heman and Yedutun had brought trumpets and cymbals to accompany the songs for God, and Yedutun’s sons at the gate joined in also.

43 Then all the people left and went home, and David also returned home to bless his household.[ref]