1 The men carrying the ark set it inside the tent David had put up for it. They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God’s presence.

2 When David finished sacrificing burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah.

3 He also distributed to every person in Israel, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

4 David appointed some Levites to serve in front of Jehovah’s Ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to Jehovah the God of Israel.

5 Asaph was the head. Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph played the cymbals.

6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the Ark of God’s covenant.

7 For the first time David entrusted Asaph and his relatives with the task of singing songs of thanks to Jehovah:

8 Give thanks to Jehovah. Call on his name. Make known among the nations what he has done.

9 Sing to him. Make music to praise him. Meditate on all the miracles he has done.

10 Praise his holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek Jehovah rejoice.

11 Search for Jehovah and his strength. Always seek his presence.

12 Remember the miracles he performed. And remember the amazing things he did and the judgments he pronounced.

13 You are descendants of Israel, his servant. You are descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 HE IS JEHOVAH OUR GOD. His judgments are pronounced throughout the earth.

15 Remember his promise for a very long time, the word that he commanded for a thousand generations!

16 Remember the covenant that he made to Abraham, and his sworn promise to Isaac.

17 He confirmed it as a law for Jacob, as a long lasting covenant to Israel.

18 He said: »I will give you Canaan. It is your share of the inheritance.«

19 While they were few in number a small group of foreigners lived in that land.

20 They wandered from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another.

21 He did not permit anyone to oppress them. He warned kings about them:

22 »Do not touch my anointed ones or harm my prophets.«

23 Sing to Jehovah, all the earth! Day after day announce that Jehovah saves his people.

24 Tell people about his glory! Tell all the nations about his miracles.

25 JEHOVAH IS GREAT! He should be highly praised. He should be reverenced held in awerespected more than all other gods.

26 This is because all the gods of the nations are useless idols while Jehovah created the heavens.

27 Splendor and majesty are in his presence. Strength and joy are where he is.

28 Appreciate Jehovah’s glory and power you families of the nations. Ascribe to Jehovah glory and strength.

29 Ascribe to Jehovah the glory his name deserves. Bring an offering, and come to him. Worship Jehovah in his holy splendor.

30 Tremble in his presence, all the earth! The earth stands firm. It cannot be moved.

31 Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. Say to the nations: »JEHOVAH RULES AS KING!«

32 Let the sea and everything in it roar like thunder. Let the fields and everything in them rejoice.

33 Then the trees in the forest will sing with joy in the presence of Jehovah when he comes to judge the earth.

34 Give thanks to Jehovah because he is good, because his mercy endures forever!

35 Say: »Rescue us, O God our Salvation. Gather us and save us from the nations that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.«

36 Thanks be to Jehovah, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said »amen« and praised Jehovah.

37 David left Asaph and his relatives to serve continually in front of the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant, as the daily work required.

38 David also left Obed Edom and sixty-eight of his relatives to serve there. Obed Edom Jeduthun’s son and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.

39 David left Zadok and his priestly relatives to serve in Jehovah’s Tent at the place of worship in Gibeon.

40 They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to Jehovah. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the Law of Jehovah that he gave Israel.

41 With Zadok and his relatives were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of the Levites who had been selected. They were chosen by name, to give thanks to Jehovah by singing, because His mercy endures forever.

42 Also, Heman and Jeduthun played trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments that accompany sacred songs. Jeduthun’s sons were stationed at the gate.

43 Then all the people went home. David went back to bless his family.