Psalms
Chapter 132
This psalm remembers David's vow to find a resting place for the LORD, and the search that brought the ark to Jerusalem. The singers ask God to come to that resting place and to keep his promise to David's family line. God answers with his own promise: he has chosen Zion for his home, and he will provide for its people and keep a king from David's line.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions:
1LORD, remember David. Remember all the hard things he went through.
2How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
2Remember the promise he made to the LORD. He made a vow to the mighty God of Jacob.
3Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;
3He said, "I will not go into my own house. I will not lie down on my bed.
4I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,
4I will not let my eyes sleep. I will not even let them close for a rest,
5Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
5until I find a place for the LORD, a home for the mighty God of Jacob."
6Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.
6We heard the ark was at Ephratah. We found it out in the fields of Jaar.
"We heard of it" means they heard where the ark was. Ephratah and "the fields of the wood" (Jaar) are place names, towns where the ark had been kept.
7We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
7Let us go to the place where God lives. Let us bow down at his footstool.
8Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
8Get up, LORD, and come to your resting place. Come, you and the ark of your strength.
The ark was a gold-covered wooden chest that held the stone tablets of God's agreement with Israel. It was carried on poles and treated as the sign that God was with his people.
9Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
9May your priests wear right living the way people wear clothes. May your faithful people shout for joy.
10For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.
10For the sake of David, your servant, do not turn away the king you chose.
11The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
11The LORD made a true promise to David, and he will not take it back: "I will put one of your own children on your throne.
12If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.
12If your sons keep my agreement and the rules I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever."
13For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
13The LORD has chosen Zion. He wanted it for his home.
14This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
14"This is my resting place forever. I will live here, because this is what I wanted.
15I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
15I will give this city plenty of food. I will fill her poor people with bread.
16I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
16I will dress her priests in saving help, and her faithful people will shout out loud for joy.
17There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
17There I will make David's strength grow like a new branch. I have set up a lamp for the king I chose.
A "horn" here means an animal's horn, used as a picture of strength. Saying the horn will "bud" pictures strength growing like a plant.
18His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
18I will cover his enemies with shame, but the crown on his own head will shine."
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