1 Chronicles 16

1 So they brought the ark [a sacred chest, the Ark of the Covenant] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God] and placed it inside the tent [a nomad’s home, the tabernacle] that David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] had pitched [stretched out, spread out] for it. And they presented [approached, came near] burnt offerings [a step or stairs to the altar, a voluntary sacrifice] and peace offerings [a voluntary sacrifice to show thanks] before God [in the presence of, before the face of]. word study 2 When David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] had finished [come to an end, ceased] sacrificing the burnt offerings [step or stairs to the altar, a voluntary sacrifice to atone for sin] and peace offerings [a voluntary sacrifice to show thanks, to express gratitude], he blessed [praised, honored] the people [a nation, a group of individuals] in the name [identity, honor, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God, The covenant Name of God]. word study 3 Then he distributed [dealt, gave] to every [all, each] man [male person, individual] and woman [female person, wife] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people] a loaf of bread [food, provision], a date cake [sweet treat, portion of flesh], and a raisin cake [raisin bun, cake of raisins]. word study 4 David appointed some of the Levites [descendants of Levi, one of Jacob’s 12 sons] to minister [serve, worship] before the ark [a sacred chest] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], to celebrate [rejoice, give thanks], to give thanks [praise, acknowledge God’s goodness], and to praise [extol, magnify] the LORD, the God [Elohim, the supreme ruler] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 5 Asaph [the chief musician, gatherer] was the chief, Zechariah [Jehovah remembers] was second [assistant, deputy], then Jeiel [God lives], Shemiramoth [exalted, lofty], Jehiel [God will enable], Mattithiah [gift of Jehovah], Eliab [my God is Father], Benaiah [Jehovah has built], Obed-edom [servant of Edom], and Jeiel [God lives]. They were to play [sound, make music with] the harps [lyres, stringed instruments] and lyres [musical instruments], while Asaph [the gatherer] sounded [made a sound with, rang out] the cymbals [tinklers, metal plates] word study 6 and the priests [ministers of God, spiritual leaders] Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets [sounding a quavering note, signaling important events] regularly [continually, at all times] before the ark [a sacred chest] of the covenant [a promise, an agreement between God and his people] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. word study 7 On that day [at the beginning of a new era] David first [for the first time, initially] committed [ordained, entrusted] to Asaph [the gatherer, a Levite] and his brothers [relatives, fellow worshipers] this song [psalm, hymn] of thanksgiving [praise, gratitude] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God, the Lord of all]: word study 8 “Give thanks [with praise and worship] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; call [cry out to] upon His name [fame, renown, reputation]; make known [declare and proclaim] His deeds [mighty works and achievements] among the nations [peoples and countries]. word study 9 Sing [with joy, in praise] to Him, sing praises [psalms, songs of worship] to Him; tell [meditate on, talk about] of all [everything, the entirety] His wonders [marvellous works, miraculous deeds]. word study 10 Glory [boast, rejoice] in His holy [set-apart, sacred] name [identity, character]; let the hearts [feelings, will, intellect] of those who seek [search, inquire] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] rejoice [be glad, celebrate]. word study 11 Seek out [diligently, with all your heart] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and His strength [might, power, boldness]; seek [search for, inquire of] His face [presence, approval] always [continually, forevermore]. word study 12 Remember [keep in mind, do not forget] the wonders [marvellous works, mighty acts] He has done [accomplished, performed], His marvels [signs, miracles], and the judgments [just laws, decisions] He has pronounced [spoken, declared], word study 13 O offspring [seed, descendants] of His servant [faithful attendant, bondslave] Israel, O sons [children, descendants] of Jacob [the one who supplants, deceiver], His chosen [select, beloved] ones. word study 14 He [the self-existent One] is the LORD [Yehovah, our covenant God] our God [Elohim, the supreme Judge]; His judgments [just and fair laws, righteous decrees] carry [are executed, prevail] throughout [in all parts of] the earth [land, world, creation]. word study 15 Remember [to recall, mark in memory] His covenant [promise, agreement] forever [always, for eternity], the word [thing, matter] He ordained [commanded, appointed] for a thousand [large number, company of] generations [period of time, group of people]— word study 16 the covenant [agreement, pact] He made with Abraham [the father of faith], and the oath [vow, promise] He swore to Isaac [he laughs, son of promise]. word study 17 He confirmed [established, appointed] it to Jacob [the father of the Israelites] as a decree [statute, law], to Israel [His chosen people] as an everlasting [forever, age-during] covenant [promise, agreement]: word study 18 ‘I will give [bestow, grant] you the land [territory, region] of Canaan [the promised land, modern-day Israel] as the portion [lot, measured area] of your inheritance [heritage, legacy, something passed down].’ word study 19 When they were [but a few men in number, very few] few in number [a small group, a little], few indeed, and [sojourners, living as] strangers in the land [as foreigners, belonging to another people], word study 20 they wandered [traveled, went about] from nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew people] to nation, from one kingdom [domain, ruler’s power] to another [next, different]. word study 21 He let [suffered, allowed] no man [individual, person] oppress [do them wrong, violently defraud] them; He rebuked [reproved, corrected] kings [royal rulers, monarchs] on their behalf [for their sake, because of them]: word study 22 ‘Do not [never, under no circumstances] touch My anointed ones [chosen people, set apart for God’s purpose]! Do no harm [be evil, afflict] to My prophets [spokespersons for God, messengers of divine truth]!’ word study 23 Sing [make music, praise] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], all [everything, the whole] the earth [land, world]. Proclaim [bear tidings, announce] His salvation [deliverance, victory] day [a literal 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] after day [continually, daily]. word study 24 Declare [rehearse, tell forth] His glory [great honor, splendor] among the nations [Gentiles, heathen], His wonderful [marvellous, amazing] deeds [works, acts] among all [every, the whole of] peoples [nations, people groups]. word study 25 For great [exceedingly, very] is the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and greatly [much, exceedingly] to be praised [celebrated, revered]; He is to be feared [revered, stood in awe of] above [on, over] all [everything, the whole] gods [Elohim, supreme beings]. word study 26 For [because of this reason] all [everything, the entirety] the gods [Elohim, false deities] of the nations [peoples, Gentile nations] are [exist as] idols [worthless, vain], but [in contrast] it is the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] who made [created, formed] the heavens [the sky, the celestial realm]. word study 27 Splendor [glory, majestic appearance] and majesty [honor, excellence] are before Him [in His presence, face to face]; strength [power, might] and joy [gladness, celebration] fill His dwelling [sanctuary, holy place]. word study 28 Ascribe [give credit, bring] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], O families [clans, tribes] of the nations [people, Gentiles], ascribe [give, bring] to the LORD [the supreme God] glory [great honor, splendor] and strength [power, might]. word study 29 Ascribe [give, attribute] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] the glory [great honor, splendor] due His name [identity, character]; bring [lift, offer] an offering [gift, sacrifice] and come [approach, enter] before Him [into His presence]. Worship [bow down, reverence] the LORD [the supreme God] in the splendor [beauty, adornment] of His holiness [set-apartness, sanctity]; word study 30 tremble [be in fear, quake with awe] before Him [in His presence, before His face], all [everything, the whole] the earth [land, world]. The world [the earth and its inhabitants] is firmly established [set up, founded]; it cannot [not, nothing] be moved [shaken, wavering]. word study 31 Let the heavens [the visible universe, sky] be glad [joyful, rejoicing], and the earth [land, ground] rejoice [be glad, happy]. Let them say [declare, proclaim] among the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrews], ‘The LORD [Yehovah, God] reigns [is King, rules]!’ word study 32 Let the sea [roar, be thundering] resound, and all [everything, the fulness] that fills it; let the fields [land, the earth] exult [rejoice, jump for joy], and all [everything, whatsoever] that is in them. word study 33 Then [at that time, in the past] the trees [strong and firm objects, like wooden planks] of the forest [a copse of bushes, a wooded area] will sing [shout for joy, overcome with praise] for joy [with triumph, in celebration] before the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], for He is coming [approaching, drawing near] to judge [vindicate, govern, or punish] the earth [the land, the soil, or the ground]. word study 34 Give thanks [praise, acknowledge] to the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], for He is good [pleasant, benevolent]; His loving devotion [kindness, mercy] endures [remains, persists] forever [for all eternity, always]. word study 35 Then cry out: ‘Save us [rescue, deliver], O God [Elohim, the supreme God] of our salvation [deliverance, rescue]; gather [assemble, collect] and deliver [rescue, snatch away] us from the nations [Gentiles, heathen], that we may give thanks [praise, acknowledge] to Your holy [set-apart, sacred] name [identity, character], that we may glory [rejoice, triumph] in Your praise [song of praise].’ word study 36 Blessed [praised, honored] be the LORD [Yehovah], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel, from [since the beginning of time, from the very start] everlasting [forever, always] to everlasting [till the end of time].” Then all [every single one, the entire congregation] the people said, “Amen [so be it, truly]!” and “Praise [extol, magnify] the LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel]!” word study 37 So David left [abandoned, forsook] Asaph and his brothers [relatives, kin] there [in that place, at that location] before the ark [chest, container] of the covenant [agreement, promise] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], to minister [serve, attend] there [in that place] regularly [continually, every day] according to the daily [day by day, each day’s] requirements [needs, duties], word study 38 along with Obed-edom [a faithful Levite, servant of God] and his sixty-eight [threescore and eight, a large number] relatives [brothers, close kin]. Obed-edom [a temple musician] son of Jeduthun [a chief of a temple choir], and also Hosah [meaning refuge, a doorkeeper], were to be gatekeepers [porters, doorkeepers, guardians of the entrance]. word study 39 And David left Zadok [the righteous high priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] and his fellow [close relative, friend, or associate] priests before the tabernacle [a special tent where God met with the Israelites] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] at the high place [a cultic platform or mountain, a place of worship] in Gibeon [a Levitical city, a place of spiritual significance] word study 40 to regularly present [continually, every day] burnt offerings [holocausts, sacrifices totally consumed by fire] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] on the altar [place of sacrifice] of burnt offerings, morning [at the break of day] and evening [at sunset], according to all that was written [recorded, inscribed] in the Law [instruction, guidance] of the LORD, which He had commanded [given orders, appointed] Israel [the descendants of Jacob] to keep [obey, follow]. word study 41 With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest [remnant, surviving ones] of those chosen [purified, set apart] and designated by name [identified, appointed] to give thanks [praise, express gratitude] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], for “His loving devotion [kindness, mercy, lovingkindness] endures [lasts, remains] forever [for all eternity, always].” word study 42 Heman [a Levite, chief musician] and Jeduthun [leader of a temple choir] had with them trumpets [used to signal important events] and cymbals [double tinklers] for the music [songs of praise] and instruments [articles, utensils] for the songs [musical expressions] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. And the sons [descendants] of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate [entrance to the temple]. word study 43 Then all [every single one] the people [a nation, community] departed [went home, returned] for their homes [houses, dwelling places], and David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] returned home [to his house, family] to bless [praise, honor, kneel in worship] his household [family, those under his care]. word study