Revised Standard Version RSV
The Message Bible MSG
1 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader.
1
David consulted with all of his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brethren who remain in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasture lands, that they may come together to us.
2
Then David addressed the entire assembly of Israel, "If it seems right to you, and it is God's will, let's invite all our relatives wherever they are throughout Israel, along with their relatives, including their priests and Levites from their cities and surrounding pastures, to join us.
3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we neglected it in the days of Saul."
3
And let's bring the Chest of our God back - the Chest that was out of sight, out of mind during the days of Saul."
4 All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
4
The entire assembly of Israel agreed - everybody agreed that it was the right thing to do.
5 So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kir'iath-je'arim.
5
So David gathered all Israel together, from Egypt's Pond of Horus in the southwest to the Pass of Hamath in the northeast, to go and get the Chest of God from Kiriath Jearim.
6 And David and all Israel went up to Ba'alah, that is, to Kir'iath-je'arim which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD who sits enthroned above the cherubim.
6
Then David and all Israel went to Baalah (Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring back the Chest of God, the "Cherubim-Throne-of-God," where God's Name is invoked.
7 And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart, from the house of Abin'adab, and Uzzah and Ahi'o were driving the cart.
7
They moved the Chest of God on a brand-new cart from the house of Abinadab with Uzzah and Ahio in charge.
8 And David and all Israel were making merry before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.
8
In procession with the Chest of God, David and all Israel worshiped exuberantly in song and dance, with a marching band of all kinds of instruments.
9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.
9
When they were at the threshing floor of Kidon, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah grabbed the Chest to keep it from falling off.
10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and he smote him because he put forth his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.
10
God erupted in anger against Uzzah and killed him because he grabbed the Chest. He died on the spot - in the presence of God.
11 And David was angry because the LORD had broken forth upon Uzzah; and that place is called Pe'rez-uz'za to this day.
11
David lost his temper, angry because God exploded against Uzzah; the place is still called Perez Uzzah (Exploded Uzzah).
12 And David was afraid of God that day; and he said, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?"
12
David was terrified of God that day; he said, "How can I possibly continue this parade with the Chest of God?"
13 So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house of O'bed-e'dom the Gittite.
13
So David called off the parade of the Chest to the City of David; instead he stored it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
14 And the ark of God remained with the household of O'bed-e'dom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed the household of O'bed-e'dom and all that he had.
14
The Chest of God was in storage in the house of Obed-Edom for three months. God blessed the family of Obed-Edom and everything around him.