1 Chronicles 16 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

The Ark Placed in a Tent

(2Sa 6:17–19 )

1Ch 16:1And they brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

1Ch 16:2

1Ch 16:2And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD

1Ch 16:3

1Ch 16:3and distributed to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat,[fn] and a cake of raisins.

1Ch 16:4

1Ch 16:4Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.

1Ch 16:5

1Ch 16:5Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals,

1Ch 16:6

1Ch 16:6and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

(Psa 96:1–13; 105:1–15; 106:1, 47, 48 )

1Ch 16:7

1Ch 16:7Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers.

David’s Song of Thanks

1Ch 16:8

1Ch 16:8Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!

1Ch 16:9

1Ch 16:9Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!

1Ch 16:10

1Ch 16:10Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

1Ch 16:11

1Ch 16:11Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!

1Ch 16:12

1Ch 16:12Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles and the judgments he uttered,

1Ch 16:13

1Ch 16:13O offspring of Israel his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

1Ch 16:14

1Ch 16:14He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

1Ch 16:15

1Ch 16:15Remember his covenant forever,
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

1Ch 16:16

1Ch 16:16the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,

1Ch 16:17

1Ch 16:17which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

1Ch 16:18

1Ch 16:18saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
as your portion for an inheritance.”

1Ch 16:19

1Ch 16:19When you were few in number,
of little account, and sojourners in it,

1Ch 16:20

1Ch 16:20wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,

1Ch 16:21

1Ch 16:21he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account,

1Ch 16:22

1Ch 16:22saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
do my prophets no harm!”

1Ch 16:23

1Ch 16:23Sing to the LORD, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.

1Ch 16:24

1Ch 16:24Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!

1Ch 16:25

1Ch 16:25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.

1Ch 16:26

1Ch 16:26For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.

1Ch 16:27

1Ch 16:27Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.

1Ch 16:28

1Ch 16:28Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!

1Ch 16:29

1Ch 16:29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;[fn]

1Ch 16:30

1Ch 16:30tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

1Ch 16:31

1Ch 16:31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”

1Ch 16:32

1Ch 16:32Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!

1Ch 16:33

1Ch 16:33Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.

1Ch 16:34

1Ch 16:34Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

1Ch 16:35

1Ch 16:35Say also:
“Save us, O God of our salvation,
and gather and deliver us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

1Ch 16:36

1Ch 16:36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.

Worship Before the Ark

1Ch 16:37

1Ch 16:37So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister regularly before the ark as each day required,

1Ch 16:38

1Ch 16:38and also Obed-edom and his[fn] sixty-eight brothers, while Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.

1Ch 16:39

1Ch 16:39And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon

1Ch 16:40

1Ch 16:40to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly morning and evening, to do all that is written in the Law of the LORD that he commanded Israel.

1Ch 16:41

1Ch 16:41With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.

1Ch 16:42

1Ch 16:42Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.

1Ch 16:43

1Ch 16:43Then all the people departed each to his house, and David went home to bless his household.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(16:3)

Compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

(16:29)

Or in holy attire

(16:38)

Hebrew their

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

1 Chronicles Chapter 16 — Additional Translations: