1 Chronicles 16 - Easy To Read Version

¹ The Levites brought the Box of the Agreement {\cf2\super [182]} and put it inside the tent David had set up for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to God.

² After David had finished giving the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he used the Lord’s name to bless the people.

³ Then he gave a loaf of bread, some dates, and raisins to every Israelite man and woman.

⁴ Then David chose some of the Levites to serve before the Box of the Agreement. {\cf2\super [183]} Those Levites {\cf2\super [184]} had the job of celebrating and giving thanks and praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.

⁵ Asaph was the leader \{of the first group\}. Asaph’s group played the cymbals. {\cf2\super [185]} Zechariah was the \{leader of the\} second \{group\}. The other Levites were: Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel. These men played the lyres {\cf2\super [186]} and harps. {\cf2\super [187]}

⁶ Benaiah and Jahaziel were the priests that always blew the trumpets before the Box of the Agreement.

⁷ This was when David first gave Asaph and his brothers the job of singing praises to the Lord.

⁸ Praise the Lord.\par Call on his name.\par Tell people about the great things\par the Lord has done.\par

⁹ Sing to the Lord.\par Sing praises to the Lord.\par Tell about all his wonderful works.\par

¹⁰ Be proud of the Lord’s holy name.\par All you people coming to the Lord,\par be happy!\par

¹¹ Look to the Lord and his strength.\par Always go to him for help.\par

¹² Remember the wonderful things\par that the Lord has done.\par Remember his decisions\par and the powerful things he has done.\par

¹³ The people of Israel\par are the Lord’s servants.\par The descendants of Jacob,\par are the Lord’s chosen people.\par

¹⁴ The Lord is our God.\par His power is everywhere.\par

¹⁵ Remember his Agreement forever.\par He gave those commandments\par for a thousand generations.\par

¹⁶ Remember the Agreement\par that the Lord made with Abraham.\par Remember his promise to Isaac.\par

¹⁷ The Lord made it a law for Jacob.\par It is the Agreement with Israel\par that continues forever.\par

¹⁸ The Lord said to Israel:\par “I will give the land of Canaan to you.\par The promised land will be yours.”\par

¹⁹ There were only a few people.\par A few strangers in a foreign land.\par

²⁰ They went from one nation to another.\par They went from one kingdom to another.\par

²¹ But the Lord did not let anyone hurt them.\par The Lord warned kings not to hurt them.\par

²² The Lord told those kings,\par “Don’t hurt my chosen people.\par Don’t hurt my prophets.”\par

²³ Sing to the Lord, all the earth.\par Each day you must tell the good news about the Lord saving us.\par

²⁴ Tell all nations about the Lord’s glory.\par Tell everyone how wonderful he is.\par

²⁵ The Lord is great,\par and he should be praised.\par The Lord is more awesome\par than all the other gods.\par

²⁶ Why? Because all the gods of the world\par are only worthless statues.\par But the Lord made the skies!\par

²⁷ The Lord has glory and honor.\par The Lord is like a bright, shining light.\par

²⁸ Families and people,\par praise the Lord’s glory and power!\par

²⁹ When the Box of the Agreement {\cf2\super [180]} arrived at the City of David, {\cf2\super [181]} Michal looked through a window. Michal was Saul’s daughter. She saw King David dancing and playing around. And she lost her respect for David—\{she thought he was being foolish\}.

³⁰ The whole earth should shake with fear in front of the Lord!\par But he made the earth strong,\par the world won’t move.\par

³¹ Let the earth and skies be happy.\par Let people everywhere say,\par “The Lord rules!”\par

³² Let the sea and everything in it shout!\par Let the fields and everything in them show their joy!\par

³³ The trees of the forest will sing with joy in front of the Lord!\par Why? Because the Lord is coming.\par He is coming to judge the world.\par

³⁴ Oh, thank the Lord—he is good.\par The Lord’s love continues forever.\par

³⁵ Say to the Lord,\par “Save us, God our Savior.\par Gather us together,\par and save us from the other nations.\par Then we can praise your holy name.\par Then we can praise you with our songs.”\par

³⁶ May the Lord God of Israel\par be praised forever\par as he has been praised forever!\par

³⁷ Then David left Asaph and his brothers there in front of the Box of the Agreement. David left them there to serve in front of it every day.

³⁸ David also left Obed Edom and 68 other Levites to serve with Asaph and his brothers. Obed Edom and Hosah were guards. Obed Edom was Jeduthun’s son.\par

³⁹ David left Zadok the priest and the other priests that served with him in front of the Lord’s Tent {\cf2\super [188]} at the high place {\cf2\super [189]} in Gibeon.

⁴⁰ Every morning and evening Zadok and the other priests offered burnt offerings on the altar of burnt offerings. They did this to follow the rules written in the Law of the Lord which the Lord had given Israel.

⁴¹ Heman and Jeduthun and all the other Levites were chosen by name to sing the songs of praise such as, Praise the Lord because his love continues forever. {\cf2\super [190]}

⁴² Heman and Jeduthun were with them. They had the job of blowing the trumpets and playing cymbals. {\cf2\super [191]} They also had the job of playing other musical instruments when songs were sung to God. Jeduthun’s sons guarded the gates.\par

⁴³ \{After the celebration,\} all the people left. Each person went to his own home. And David also went home to bless his family.\par