Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
The Message Bible MSG
1 He made also houses for himself in the city of David: and built a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tabernacle for it.
1
After David built houses for himself in the City of David, he cleared a place for the Chest and pitched a tent for it.
2 Then David said: No one ought to carry the ark of God, but the Levites, whom the Lord hath chosen to carry it, and to minister unto himself for ever.
2
Then David gave orders: "No one carries the Chest of God except the Levites; God designated them and them only to carry the Chest of God and be available full time for service in the work of worship."
3 And he gathered all Israel together into Jerusalem, that the ark of God might be brought into its place, which he had prepared for it.
3
David then called everyone in Israel to assemble in Jerusalem to bring up the Chest of God to its specially prepared place.
4 And the sons of Aaron also, and the Levites.
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David also called in the family of Aaron and the Levites.
5 Of the children of Caath, Uriel was the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twenty.
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From the family of Kohath, Uriel the head with 120 relatives;
6 Of the sons of Merari, Asaia the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty.
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from the family of Merari, Asaiah the head with 220 relatives;
7 Of the sons of Gersom, Joel the chief, and his brethren a hundred and thirty.
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from the family of Gershon, Joel the head with 130 relatives;
8 Of the sons of Elisaphan, Semeias the chief: and his brethren two hundred.
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from the family of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the head with 200 relatives;
9 Of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief: and his brethren eighty.
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from the family of Hebron, Eliel the head with 80 relatives;
10 Of the sons of Oziel, Aminadab the chief: and his brethren a hundred and twelve.
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from the family of Uzziel, Amminadab the head with 112 relatives.
11 And David called Sadoc, and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites, Uriel, Asaia, Joel, Semeia, Eliel, and Aminadab:
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Then David called in Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab the Levites.
12 And he said to them: You that are the heads of the Levitical families, be sanctified with your brethren, and bring the ark of the Lord the God of Israel to the place, which is prepared for it:
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He said, "You are responsible for the Levitical families; now consecrate yourselves, both you and your relatives, and bring up the Chest of the God of Israel to the place I have set aside for it.
13 Lest as the Lord at first struck us, because you were not present, the same should now also come to pass, by our doing some thing against the law.
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The first time we did this, you Levites did not carry it properly, and God exploded in anger at us because we didn't make proper preparation and follow instructions."
14 So the priests and the Levites were sanctified, to carry the ark of the Lord the God of Israel.
14
So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the Chest of the God of Israel.
15 And the sons of Levi took the ark of God as Moses had commanded, according to the word of the Lord, upon their shoulders, with the staves.
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The Levites carried the Chest of God exactly as Moses, instructed by God, commanded - carried it with poles on their shoulders, careful not to touch it with their hands.
16 And David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites, to appoint some of their brethren to be singers with musical instruments, to wit, on psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, that the joyful noise might resound on high.
16
David ordered the heads of the Levites to assign their relatives to sing in the choir, accompanied by a well-equipped marching band, and fill the air with joyful sound.
17 And they appointed Levites, Hemam the son of Joel, and of his brethren Asaph the son of Barachias: and of the sons of Merari, their brethren: Ethan the son of Casaia.
17
The Levites assigned Heman son of Joel, and from his family, Asaph son of Berekiah, then Ethan son of Kushaiah from the family of Merari,
18 And with them their brethren: in the second rank, Zacharias, and Ben, and Jaziel, and Semiramoth, and Jahiel, and Ani, and Eliab, and Banaias, and Maasias, and Mathathias, and Eliphalu, and Macenias, and Obededom, and Jehiel, the porters.
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and after them in the second rank their brothers Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel as security guards.
19 Now the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, sounded with cymbals of brass.
19
The members of the choir and marching band were: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan with bronze cymbals;
20 And Zacharias, and Oziel, and Semiramoth, and Jehiel, and Ani, and Eliab, and Maasias, and Banaias, sung mysteries upon psalteries.
20
Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah with lyres carrying the melody;
21 And Mathathias, and Eliphalu, and Macenias and Obededom, and Jehiel and Ozaziu, sung a song of victory for the octave upon harps.
21
Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah with harps filling in the harmony;
22 And Chonenias chief of the Levites, presided over the prophecy, to give out the tunes: for he was very skilful.
22
Kenaniah, the Levite in charge of music, a very gifted musician, was music director.
23 And Barachias, and Elcana, were doorkeepers of the ark.
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Berekiah and Elkanah were porters for the Chest.
24 And Sebenias, and Josaphat, and Nathanael, and Amasai, and Zacharias, and Banaias, and Eliezer the priests, sounded with trumpets, before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehias were porters of the ark.
24
The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer blew the trumpets before the Chest of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also porters for the Chest.
25 So David and all the ancients of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obededom with joy.
25
Now they were ready. David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands started out to get the Chest of the Covenant of God and bring it up from the house of Obed-Edom. And they went rejoicing.
26 And when God had helped the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they offered in sacrifice seven oxen, and seven rams.
26
Because God helped the Levites, strengthening them as they carried the Chest of the Covenant of God, they paused to worship by sacrificing seven bulls and seven rams.
27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that carried the ark, and the singing men, and Chonenias the ruler of the prophecy among the singers: and David also had on him an ephod of linen.
27
They were all dressed in elegant linen - David, the Levites carrying the Chest, the choir and band, and Kenaniah who was directing the music. David also wore a linen prayer shawl (called an ephod).
28 And all Israel brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord with joyful shouting, and sounding with the sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and cymbals, and psalteries, and harps.
28
On they came, all Israel on parade bringing up the Chest of the Covenant of God, shouting and cheering, playing every kind of brass and percussion and string instrument.
29 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord was come to the city of David, Michol the daughter of Saul looking out at a window, saw king David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart.
29
When the Chest of the Covenant of God entered the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, was watching from a window. When she saw King David dancing ecstatically she was filled with contempt.
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Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.