| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 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. | 1David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. |
| 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. | 2Then David said, "Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve before him perpetually. |
| 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. | 3David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD up to the place he had prepared for it. |
| 4David also assembled the descendants of Aaron, who were descendants of Levi, | 4David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: |
| 5including Uriel their leader from the descendants of Kohath, along with 120 of his relatives, | 5From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives. |
| 6from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah their leader, along with 220 of his relatives, | 6From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives. |
| 7from the descendants of Gershom, Joel their chief, along with 130 of his relatives, | 7From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives. |
| 8from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah their leader, along with 200 of his relatives, | 8From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives. |
| 9from Hebron's descendants, Eliel their leader, along with 80 of his relatives, | 9From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives. |
| 10and from Uzziel's descendants, Amminadab their leader, along with 112 of his relatives. | 10From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives. |
| 11Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the descendants of Levi Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab | 11David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. |
| 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. | 12He told them: "You are the leaders of the Levites' families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the LORD God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it. |
| 13Because you didn't carry it from the very first, the LORD our God attacked us, since we didn't care for it appropriately." | 13The first time you did not carry it; that is why the LORD God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it." |
| 14So the priests and descendants of Levi set themselves apart to carry the ark of the LORD God of Israel. | 14The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. |
| 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. | 15The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command. |
| 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. | 16David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully. |
| 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, | 17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah; |
| 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. | 18along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. |
| 19The singers included Heman, Asaph, and Ethan (who played bronze cymbals). | 19The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; |
| 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played harps to accompany the women singers, | 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style; |
| 21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah led on lyres, sounding the octaves. | 21Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, as led by the director; |
| 22Chenaniah, music leader for the descendants of Levi, served as music director, because he was expert at it. | 22Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter; |
| 23Berechiah and Elkanah served as gatekeepers for the ark. | 23Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians of 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. | 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark. |
| 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. | 25So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration. |
| 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. | 26When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the LORD's covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. |
| 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. | 27David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; David also wore a linen ephod. |
| 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. | 28All Israel brought up the ark of the LORD's covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments. |
| 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. | 29As the ark of the LORD's covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him. |
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