English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1David built houses for himself in the city of David. And he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.

1David built palaces for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the Ark of God and erected a tent for it.

2Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever.

2Then David ordered that the Ark of God was to be carried by no one except the descendants of Levi, because the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve him forever.

3And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it.

3David assembled all of Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its proper place that he had prepared for it.

4And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:

4David also assembled the descendants of Aaron, who were descendants of Levi,

5of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with 120 of his brothers;

5including Uriel their leader from the descendants of Kohath, along with 120 of his relatives,

6of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with 220 of his brothers;

6from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah their leader, along with 220 of his relatives,

7of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with 130 of his brothers;

7from the descendants of Gershom, Joel their chief, along with 130 of his relatives,

8of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with 200 of his brothers;

8from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah their leader, along with 200 of his relatives,

9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with 80 of his brothers;

9from Hebron's descendants, Eliel their leader, along with 80 of his relatives,

10of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with 112 of his brothers.

10and from Uzziel's descendants, Amminadab their leader, along with 112 of his relatives.

11Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,

11Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the descendants of Levi Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab

12and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.

12and addressed them: "As leaders of your Levitical families, set yourselves apart, both you and your relatives, so you can be qualified to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I've prepared for it.

13Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.”

13Because you didn't carry it from the very first, the LORD our God attacked us, since we didn't care for it appropriately."

14So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.

14So the priests and descendants of Levi set themselves apart to carry the ark of the LORD God of Israel.

15And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.

15The descendants of Levi carried the Ark of God the way Moses had commanded and in accordance with the command from the LORD—that is, with poles on their shoulders.

16David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.

16David also told the leaders of the descendants of Levi to appoint their relatives as singers, to play musical instruments such as harps, lyres, and cymbals, and to keep sounding aloud with joyful voices.

17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;

17So the descendants of Levi appointed Joel's son Heman, his relative Berechiah's son Asaph, as well as certain relatives of Merari's sons, including Kushaiah's son Ethan,

18and with them their brothers of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.

18their second order relatives Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, as well as the trustees Obed-edom and Jeiel.

19The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals;

19The singers included Heman, Asaph, and Ethan (who played bronze cymbals).

20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth;

20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played harps to accompany the women singers,

21but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith.

21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah led on lyres, sounding the octaves.

22Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it.

22Chenaniah, music leader for the descendants of Levi, served as music director, because he was expert at it.

23Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

23Berechiah and Elkanah served as gatekeepers for the ark.

24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, should blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were appointed to sound the trumpets before the Ark of God, and Obed-edom and Jehiah were trustees for the ark.

25So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing.

25Then David, the elders of Israel, and the leaders of groups of thousands proceeded to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Obed-edom's house, rejoicing as they went.

26And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

26As God helped the descendants of Levi who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod.

27David wore a robe made from fine linen, as did all of the descendants of Levi who were carrying the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music and choir director. David also wore a linen ephod.

28So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.

28All of Israel were bringing up the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, accompanied by shouting, sounding of horns, trumpets, and cymbals, along with loud music on harps and lyres.

29And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

29But as the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD approached the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David dancing and cavorting around, and she despised him in her heart.

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