<p class="bodytext">David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.<n id="1" />

All these were the sons of Heman, the king&#8217;s prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious.<n id="1" /> God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.p>

Konaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, along with Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the officials of the Levites, supplied the Levites with 5,000 Passover sacrifices and 500 cattle.

and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels intended for the temple of our God &#8211; items that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present had contributed.

I prayed,<n id="1" />p> <p class="bodytext">&#8220;O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God! For our iniquities have climbed higher than our heads, and our guilt extends to the heavens.

<p class="poetry">How long must I worry,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and suffer in broad daylight?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">How long will my enemy gloat over me?<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Now I will triumphp> <p class="poetry">over my enemies who surround me!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I will sing praises to the <sc>Lordsc>!p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">A psalm &#8211; a song used at the dedication of the temple;<n id="2" /> by David.p> <p class="poetry">I will praise you, O <sc>Lordsc>, for you lifted me up,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and did not allow my enemies to gloat<n id="4" /> over me.p>

<p class="poetry">Then you<n id="1" /> spoke through a vision to your faithful followers<n id="2" /> and said:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I have energized a warrior;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">I have raised up a young man<n id="4" /> from the people.p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">A song of ascents,<n id="2" /> by David.p> <p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc>, my heart is not proud,p> <p class="poetry">nor do I have a haughty look.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">I do not have great aspirations,p> <p class="poetry">or concern myself with things that are beyond me.<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Listen, O heavens,p> <p class="poetry">pay attention, O earth!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> speaks:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I raised children,<n id="2" /> I brought them up,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">but<n id="4" /> they have rebelled<n id="5" /> against me!p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">In the year of King Uzziah&#8217;s death,<n id="1" /> I saw the sovereign master<n id="2" /> seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe filled the temple.

<n id="1" /><p class="poetry">On a bare hill raise a signal flag,p> <p class="poetry">shout to them,p> <p class="poetry">wave your hand,p> <p class="poetry">so they might enter the gates of the princes!p>

<p class="poetry">You said to yourself,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I will climb up to the sky.p> <p class="poetry">Above the stars of El<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I will set up my throne.p> <p class="poetry">I will rule on the mountain of assemblyp> <p class="poetry">on the remote slopes of Zaphon.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Be ashamed, O Sidon,p> <p class="poetry">for the sea<n id="1" /> says this, O fortress of the sea:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I have not gone into laborp> <p class="poetry">or given birth;p> <p class="poetry">I have not raised young menp> <p class="poetry">or brought up young women.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc>, you are ready to act,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but they don&#8217;t even notice.p> <p class="poetry">They will see and be put to shame by your angry judgment against humankind,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">yes, fire will consume your enemies.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">For this reason the <sc>Lordsc> is ready to show you mercy;p> <p class="poetry">he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Indeed, the <sc>Lordsc> is a just God;p> <p class="poetry">all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Whom have you taunted and hurled insults at?p> <p class="poetry">At whom have you shoutedp> <p class="poetry">and looked so arrogantly?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">At the Holy One of Israel!<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;Shout loudly! Don&#8217;t be quiet!p> <p class="poetry">Yell as loud as a trumpet!p> <p class="poetry">Confront my people with their rebellious deeds;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">confront Jacob&#8217;s family with their sin!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Come through! Come through the gates!p> <p class="poetry">Prepare the way for the people!p> <p class="poetry">Build it! Build the roadway!p> <p class="poetry">Remove the stones!p> <p class="poetry">Lift a signal flag for the nations!p>