6 Then David selected thirty thousand Israeli warriors and gathered them together. 2 He led them to Kiryat-Yearim (formerly called Ba’alah) in Yehudah (Judah) to get the box of God (whose name is Commander-in-chief Yahweh) who lives between the two winged creatures on the top of it.[ref] 3 They placed the sacred chest on a newly-made cart and started moving it from Avinadav’s house which was on a hill.[ref] Uza and Ahyo (Avinadav’s sons) were leading the cart. 4 They took it from Avinadav’s house and Ahyo took the lead in front. 5 David and all the Israelis were celebrating in God’s presence with wooden harps and lyres, along with tambourines, shakers, and cymbals.

6 But when they reached Nakon’s threshing floor the oxen stumbled so Uza reached out to steady the sacred chest. 7 Yahweh became furious with Uza and killed him right there by the sacred chest because he’d touched it. 8 Now David got angry because of Yahweh’s outburst against Uza, and that place has been called Perets-Uza (meaning ‘The punishment of Uza’) until today. 9 David was afraid of Yahweh that day and asked, “How will Yahweh’s box get to Yerushalem (Jerusalem)?” 10 So he decided not to take Yahweh’s box there and redirected it instead to the house of Oved-Edom (a Giti). 11 The sacred chest stayed at Oved-Edom’s house for three months, and Yahweh blessed him and all the household.[ref]

12 Someone told King David, “Yahweh has blessed Oved-Edom’s household because of the sacred chest,” so David went and brought God’s Box from Oved-Edom’s house to Yerushalem with much happiness. 13 When the men who were carrying the sacred chest had walked six steps, they stopped and David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf there. 14 ⇔Then David, wearing a linen apron, danced in front of Yahweh, putting everything into it. 15 David and all the Israelis brought the sacred chest into Yerushalem with shouting and trumpet blasts.

16 However, as they were entering the city, David’s wife Mikal (Sha’ul’s (Saul’s) daughter) looked out the window and saw King David leaping and dancing in front of Yahweh, and she felt only despite for him. 17 They took Yahweh’s box and placed it in the middle of the tent that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices to Yahweh, as well as peace offerings. 18 When David had finished offering those sacrifices, he blessed the people in Commander-in-chief Yahweh’s name. 19 He handed out a large bread roll, a cake of pressed dates, and a cake of pressed raisins to each man and woman there, then they all returned to their homes.[ref]

20 Then David returned to bless his own house, but his wife Mikal came out to meet him complaining, “What disgraceful behaviour for Yisrael’s (Israel’s) king today—dancing when he was wearing so little and exposing himself to his female servants like some brainless person!”

21 “It was to thank Yahweh,” David responded, “who chose me (rather than your father and any of his family) by appointing me as leader over Yahweh’s people Yisrael. I was celebrating in front of Yahweh 22 and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than that. Yet I will end up being honoured by those female servants that you were talking about.”

23 After that, Sha’ul’s (Saul’s) daughter Mikal never had any more children.

13 One day David consulted with all his leaders—the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. 2 David said to the whole Israeli assembly, “If it sounds good to you, and to our god Yahweh, let’s spread out to all our different regions to recruit our relatives, along with the priests and the Levites in the cities among their pasturelands, so they can join us. 3 And let’s return our god’s box back here, because we didn’t use it to ask God for guidance in Sha’ul’s (Saul’s) time.” 4 All the assembled people agreed because everyone could see that it was the right thing to do.

5 So David assembled all of Yisrael (Israel), from everywhere from the Shihor river down in Mitsrayim (Egypt) to as far north as Levo-Hamat, to bring in God’s box from Kiryat-Yearim.[ref] 6 Then David and all of Yisrael went to Kiryat-Yearim (also known as Ba’alah, in Yehudah (Judah)), to bring up from there the box of God Yahweh who sits over the winged creatures.[ref] The box is used when calling his name to request help. 7 They transported God’s box on a new cart from Avinadav’s house, and Uza and Ahyo were leading the cart, 8 and David and all of Yisrael were celebrating in front of God with all their energy, with songs, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 However, just as they were passing Kidon’s threshing floor, the oxen stumbled and Uza reached out to steady the box. 10 That made Yahweh very angry with Uza, and he struck him down because he’d reached out to touch the box, and he died right there in front of God. 11 That in turn made David angry because Yahweh had burst out against Uza, and he named that place Perets-Uza (which means ‘outburst against Uza’), which it’s still called, to this day.

12 David was afraid of God that day and asked himself, “How can I possibly bring God’s box to where I am in Yerushalem (Jerusalem)?” 13 So David gave up on bringing the box to where he was in David’s city, and instead he took it into the nearby house belonging to Oved-Edom the Giti. 14 So God’s box stayed at Oved-Edom’s house for three months, and Yahweh blessed Oved-Edom’s home and everything that belonged to him.[ref]

16 Then they brought in 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 (Israel).

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 (Zechariah) as his assistant. The other Levites who helped were Yeiel, Shemiramot, Yehiel, Matityah, Eliav, Benayah, Oved-Edom, and Yeiel. They played harps and lyres, and Asaf played cymbals. 6 Benayah and Yahaziel the priests regularly blew trumpets in front of 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 Israelis.

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.

≈ Constantly ask 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 (Israel),

≈ you descendants of Ya’akov (Jacob), 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 Avraham,[ref]

≈ and his promise to Yitshak (Isaac).[ref]

17 He established it as a law for Ya’akov (Jacob)[ref]—

≈ as an eternal agreement for Yisrael (Israel),

18 saying, “I’ll give the Kena’an (Canaan) region to you—

≈ your portion that will then be your inheritance.”

19 When your ancestors 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,

≈ and he rebuked kings on their behalf:[ref]

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,

because his loyal commitment lasts forever.[ref]

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 (Israel’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. Asaf and his brothers were left to minister in front of the box continually—in the appropriate way each day depending on the occasion—38 along with Oved-Edom and sixty-eight relatives. 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 Giveon, 40 to continually present burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar for burnt offerings, morning and evening, following all the instructions Yahweh had given Yisrael (Israel) , which had been written down. 41 With them were Heyman and Yedutun and the rest of those chosen, who were designated by name to thank Yahweh because his loyal commitment lasts forever. 42 Heyman 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]