1 Chronicles

So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

1They brought in the ark of God. The ark was the special gold chest that showed God was with His people. They set it inside the tent David had put up for it. Then they gave burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.

2And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

2When David finished giving the offerings, he blessed the people. He blessed them in the name of the LORD.

3And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

3He gave food to every man and woman in Israel. Each one got a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

NoteThe King James Bible says "a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine." The older Hebrew words most likely mean a date cake and a raisin cake, so that is how it is rendered here.

4And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

4David chose some Levites to serve in front of the ark. Levites were the family who helped with worship. Their job was to call out to the LORD, thank Him, and praise Him.

5Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

5Asaph was the leader. Zechariah came next. Then came Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and another Jeiel. They played harps and lyres, which are stringed instruments. Asaph played the cymbals.

6Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

6Benaiah and Jahaziel were priests. They blew the trumpets again and again in front of the ark of God's covenant.

7Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

7That day David first gave this song of thanks to Asaph and his relatives to sing.

8Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

8Give thanks to the LORD. Call out to Him. Tell other nations what He has done.

9Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

9Sing to Him. Sing songs of praise to Him. Talk about all His wonderful works.

10Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

10Be glad that you belong to His holy name. Let everyone who looks for the LORD be happy.

11Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

11Look for the LORD and His strength. Keep looking for Him always.

12Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

12Remember the amazing things He has done. Remember His wonders and the decisions He has spoken.

13O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

13You are the children of Israel, His servant. You are Jacob's family, the people He chose.

14He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

14He is the LORD our God. His decisions go out over all the earth.

15Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

15Always remember His covenant. A covenant is a promise He made and will keep. He gave His word to last for a thousand generations.

16Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;

16This is the promise He made with Abraham. He swore the same promise to Isaac.

17And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

17He made it certain for Jacob as a rule. He made it with Israel as a promise that lasts forever.

18Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;

18He said, "I will give you the land of Canaan. It will belong to you and your family."

19When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.

19Back then there were only a few of them. They were strangers living in that land.

20And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;

20They moved from one nation to another. They went from one kingdom to another people.

21He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

21God did not let anyone hurt them. He even told kings to stop, for their sake.

NoteIn 1611 English, "he suffered no man" meant "he allowed no one." It does not mean anyone was suffering.

22Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

22He said, "Do not touch the ones I have chosen. Do not harm my prophets." Prophets are people who tell others what God says.

23Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

23Sing to the LORD, everyone on earth. Tell every day how He saves people.

24Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.

24Tell other nations how great He is. Tell all people about His wonderful works.

NoteThe King James word "heathen" simply means the other nations, the peoples who were not Israel. It is not an insult.

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

25The LORD is great, and He should be praised a lot. He should be honored more than any other god.

26For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

26The gods of other nations are only idols, which are statues people made. But the LORD made the heavens.

27Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.

27Splendor and greatness are right in front of Him. Strength and joy fill the place where He lives.

28Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

28Give praise to the LORD, all you families of the nations. Say that the LORD has glory and strength.

29Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

29Give the LORD the honor His name should have. Bring a gift and come to Him. Worship the LORD in His beautiful holiness.

30Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

30Shake with wonder before Him, all the earth. He set the world in place, and it cannot be shaken.

31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.

31Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth be happy. Let people in every nation say, "The LORD is King!"

32Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.

32Let the sea roar, and everything in it. Let the fields be full of joy, and all that grows there.

33Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.

33Then the trees in the forest will sing for joy. They will sing because the LORD is coming to judge the earth.

34O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

34Give thanks to the LORD, because He is good. His faithful love never ends.

35And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

35Then say, "Save us, God who saves us. Bring us back together. Rescue us from other nations. Then we can thank Your holy name and be glad to praise You."

36Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

36Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, forever and ever. Then all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD.

37So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required:

37So David left Asaph and his relatives there in front of the ark. They were to serve there every day, doing the work each day needed.

38And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:

38Obed-edom and sixty-eight of his relatives stayed too. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers, who guarded the doors.

Note"Threescore and eight" is an old way of saying sixty-eight. A score is twenty.

39And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,

39David also left Zadok the priest and the other priests with him. They served at the LORD's tent at the worship place in Gibeon.

40To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;

40Their job was to give burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar. They did this every morning and every evening. They followed everything written in the LORD's law for Israel.

41And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever;

41Heman and Jeduthun were with them, along with others chosen and named. Their job was to thank the LORD, singing, "His faithful love never ends."

42And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.

42Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals for the music. They also had other instruments for songs to God. The sons of Jeduthun watched the gate.

43And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.

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