1 Chronicles 16:4-36

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.

David Thanks God

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 continually!

16:12 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,

his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,

16:13 O children of Israel, God’s servant,

you descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen ones!

16:14 He is the Lord our God;

he carries out judgment throughout the earth.

16:15 Remember continually his covenantal decree,

the promise he made to a thousand generations –

16:16 the promise he made to Abraham,

the promise he made by oath to Isaac!

16:17 He gave it to Jacob as a decree,

to Israel as a lasting promise,

16:18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

as the portion of your inheritance.”

16:19 When they were few in number,

just a very few, and foreign residents within it,

16:20 they wandered from nation to nation,

and from one kingdom to another.

16:21 He let no one oppress them,

he disciplined kings for their sake,

16:22 saying, “Don’t touch my anointed ones!

Don’t harm my prophets!”

16:23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Announce every day how he delivers!

16:24 Tell the nations about his splendor,

tell all the nations about his miraculous deeds!

16:25 For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise,

he is more awesome than all gods.

16:26 For all the gods of the nations are worthless,

but the Lord made the heavens.

16:27 Majestic splendor emanates from him,

he is the source of strength and joy.

16:28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations,

ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!

16:29 Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves!

Bring an offering and enter his presence!

Worship the Lord in holy attire!

16:30 Tremble before him, all the earth!

The world is established, it cannot be moved.

16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy!

Let the nations say, ‘The Lord reigns!’

16:32 Let the sea and everything in it shout!

Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!

16:33 Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord,

for he comes to judge the earth!

16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good

and his loyal love endures.

16:35 Say this prayer: “Deliver us, O God who delivers us!

Gather us! Rescue us from the nations!

Then we will give thanks to your holy name,

and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.”

16:36 May the Lord God of Israel be praised,

in the future and forevermore.

Then all the people said, “We agree! Praise the Lord!”