16:1 They brought the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings 1 before God. 16:2 When David finished offering burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the Lord’s name. 16:3 He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. 16:4 He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel. 16:5 Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals; 16:6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of God’s covenant.
16:7 That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord:
16:8 Give thanks to the Lord!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations!
16:9 Sing to him! Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds!
16:10 Boast about his holy name!
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
16:11 Seek the Lord and the strength he gives!
Seek his presence 2 continually!
16:12 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,
his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed, 3
16:13 O children 4 of Israel, God’s 5 servant,
you descendants of Jacob, God’s 6 chosen ones!
16:14 He is the Lord our God;
he carries out judgment throughout the earth. 7
1 tn Or “tokens of peace”; NIV “fellowship offerings.”
2 tn Heb “face.”
3 tn Heb “and the judgments of his mouth.”
4 tn Heb “seed.”
5 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Heb “in all the earth [are] his judgments.”