1 They brought the Ark of God and placed it in the tent that David had prepared for it. They presented burnt offerings and friendship offerings to God. 2 Once David had finished presenting the burnt offerings and friendship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 Then he shared out to every Israelite, to every man and woman, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. 4 David assigned some of the Levites to serve as ministers before the Ark of the Lord, to remember, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the one in charge, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played harps and lyres, and Asaph struck the cymbals, 6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets continually in front of the Ark of God's Agreement. 7 This was the day that David first instructed Asaph and his relatives to express thanks to the Lord in this way: 8 Give the Lord thanks, worship his wonderful nature, let people know what he's done! 9 Sing to him, sing his praises; tell everyone the great things he's done! 10 Be proud of his holy character; be happy, all who come to the Lord! 11 Look for the Lord, and his strength; always look to be with him. 12 Remember all the wonderful things he's done, the miracles he's performed, and the judgments he's carried out, 13 descendants of Israel, children of Jacob, his chosen people. 14 He is the Lord, our God, his judgments cover the whole earth. 15 He remembers his agreement forever, the promise he made lasts for a thousand generations; 16 the agreement he made with Abraham, the vow he gave to Isaac. 17 The Lord legally confirmed it with Jacob, he made this everlasting agreement with Israel: 18 saying, “I will give the land of Canaan to you for you to possess.” 19 He said this when there were only a few of you, just a small group of foreigners in the land. 20 They wandered from country to country, from one kingdom to the next. 21 He didn't let anyone treat them badly; warning kings to leave them alone: 22 “Don't touch my chosen people; don't harm my prophets!” 23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth, sing to the Lord! Each day let everyone know of his salvation! 24 Declare his glorious acts among the nations, the wonderful things he does among all peoples. 25 For the Lord is great, and deserves the best praise! He is to be respected with awe above all gods. 26 For all the gods of other nations are idols; but the Lord made the heavens! 27 Splendor and majesty are his; power and glory are in his sanctuary. 28 Give the Lord credit, nations of the world, credit him with glory and strength. 29 Give the Lord the glory he deserves; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in his magnificent holiness. 30 Let everyone on earth tremble in his presence. The world is held together firmly—it cannot be broken apart. 31 Let the heavens sing for joy, let the earth be happy. Tell the nations, “The Lord is in charge!” 32 Let the sea and everything in it shout with praise! Let the fields and everything there celebrate; 33 Let all the trees in the forest sing for joy, for he is coming to judge the earth. 34 Say thank you to the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love continues forever! 35 Shout out, “Save us, Lord, our God! Bring us back together from among the nations, rescue us, so we can thank you and praise how magnificent and holy you are.” 36 How wonderful is the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives forever and ever! Then all the people said, “Amen!” and “Praise the Lord!” 37 Then David made sure Asaph and his brothers would minister continually before the Ark of the Lord's Agreement, performing whatever services were needed every day, 38 as well as Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom, son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, were gatekeepers. 39 David put Zadok the priest and his fellow priests in charge of the Ark of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon 40 to present burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offerings, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the law of the Lord which he had ordered Israel to follow. 41 They were accompanied by Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and identified by name to give thanks to the Lord, for “His trustworthy love lasts forever.” 42 Heman and Jeduthun used their trumpets and cymbals to make music to accompany the songs of God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the gate. 43 Then all the people went home, and David went to bless his family.
1 Chronicles · Free Bible Version
1 Chronicles 16 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Benaiah
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Benaiah
A priest who blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant, together with Jahaziel.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:24; 1 Chronicles 16:6
Eliab
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Hosah
Merarite appointed a gatekeeper; his lot was the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate, and he had thirteen sons and brothers.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 16:38; 1 Chronicles 26:10; 1 Chronicles 26:16
Jahaziel
A priest who, with Benaiah, blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 16:6
Jeduthun
Levite musician of David's time who gave thanks with Heman at Gibeon and prophesied with the harp; his sons were gatekeepers and singers, and several psalm titles bear his name.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 9:16; 1 Chronicles 16:41; 1 Chronicles 16:42
Jehiel
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Jeiel
Named with Obed-edom as a gatekeeper and among those appointed to lead with lyres; listed again in the ministry before the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:21; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Mattithiah
Among the Levite singers appointed to lead with lyres according to Sheminith.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:21; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Shemiramoth
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Zechariah
Among the brothers of Heman, Asaph and Ethan, appointed to play harps according to Alamoth; second in rank under Asaph when the ministry before the ark began.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Cross references (43)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Chronicles 15:1; 2 Chronicles 1:4; Ezra 6:16–18; 2 Samuel 6:17–19; 2 Chronicles 5:6–7
- 2 Genesis 47:10; 2 Chronicles 30:18–20; 2 Chronicles 30:27; Joshua 22:6; 1 Kings 8:55–56
- 3 Ezekiel 45:17; Nehemiah 8:10; 1 Peter 4:9; 2 Chronicles 30:24; 2 Chronicles 35:7–8
- 4 Psalm 72:18; Psalm 103:2; 1 Chronicles 24:3; Psalm 105:5; Psalm 106:48
- 5 1 Chronicles 6:39; 2 Chronicles 29:25; 1 Chronicles 25:1–6; 1 Chronicles 15:16–24
- 6 2 Chronicles 29:26–28; 2 Chronicles 13:12; Numbers 10:8; 2 Chronicles 5:12–13
- 7 2 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:1–2; Psalm 18:1; Nehemiah 12:24; Psalm 12:1
- 8 Psalm 105:1–15; Isaiah 12:4; 2 Kings 19:19; Psalm 145:5–6; 1 Chronicles 16:8–22
- 9 Colossians 3:16; Psalm 98:1–4; Psalm 96:1–3; James 5:13; Matthew 26:30
- 10 Matthew 7:7–8; Jeremiah 29:13; Proverbs 8:17; Psalm 34:2; Isaiah 55:6–7
- 11 Psalm 27:8–9; Zephaniah 2:2–3; Psalm 68:35; Psalm 24:6; Psalm 67:1
- 12 Psalm 111:4; Psalm 119:20; Psalm 103:2; Romans 11:33; Psalm 119:75
- 13 Psalm 135:4; Exodus 19:5–6; 1 Peter 2:9; Genesis 35:10–12; Genesis 28:13–14
- 14 Isaiah 26:9; Psalm 48:10–11; Psalm 100:3; Exodus 15:2; Psalm 97:8–9
- 15 Psalm 105:8; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 25:10; Malachi 4:4; Psalm 44:17
- 16 Genesis 17:2; Genesis 26:3; Genesis 35:11; Genesis 15:18; Galatians 3:15–17
- 17 Genesis 35:11–12; Genesis 17:7–8; Isaiah 55:3; 2 Samuel 23:5; Psalm 78:10
- 18 Genesis 13:15; Deuteronomy 32:8; Numbers 26:53–56; Genesis 28:13–14; Genesis 35:11–12
- 19 Deuteronomy 7:7; Genesis 34:30; Hebrews 11:13; Acts 7:5
- 20 Genesis 46:3; Genesis 46:6; Genesis 12:10; Genesis 20:1
- 21 Genesis 20:3; Genesis 12:17; Genesis 31:29; Exodus 7:15–18; Genesis 31:42
- 22 Genesis 20:7; Psalm 105:15; Genesis 49:8–10; Genesis 48:19–20; 1 Kings 19:16
- 23 Psalm 96:1–13; Psalm 71:15; Isaiah 51:6–8; Isaiah 12:5; 1 Chronicles 16:9
- 24 Isaiah 12:2–6; Psalm 22:27; Daniel 4:1–3; 2 Kings 19:19
- 25 Revelation 15:3–4; Psalm 89:7; Psalm 66:3–5; Jeremiah 10:6–10; Psalm 144:3–6
- 26 Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 42:5; Psalm 102:25; Isaiah 40:26; Leviticus 19:4
- 27 Psalm 96:6; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 43:2–4; Psalm 28:7–8; Psalm 63:2–3
- 28 1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 4:13; Psalm 100:1–2; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Ephesians 1:17–19
- 29 Psalm 100:4; Psalm 96:9; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 108:3–5; Psalm 96:6
- 30 Psalm 33:9; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 93:1; Psalm 148:5–6; Revelation 11:15
- 31 Psalm 96:10; Revelation 19:6; Psalm 99:1; Psalm 97:1; Psalm 93:1–2
- 32 Psalm 98:7–8; Psalm 93:4; Psalm 148:9–10; Isaiah 44:23
- 33 Psalm 96:12–13; Psalm 98:9; Revelation 11:17–18; 2 Peter 3:14; Ezekiel 17:22–24
- 34 Psalm 106:1; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Ezra 3:11; Psalm 107:1; Psalm 136:1–26
- 35 Psalm 106:47–48; 1 Peter 2:9; Psalm 79:9–10; Psalm 14:7; 1 Peter 2:5
- 36 Psalm 72:18–19; 1 Kings 8:15; 1 Kings 8:56; Nehemiah 8:6; Ephesians 1:3
- 37 2 Chronicles 8:14; Ezra 3:4; 1 Chronicles 15:17–24; 1 Chronicles 16:4–6; 1 Chronicles 25:1–6
- 38 1 Chronicles 26:10; 1 Chronicles 13:14; 1 Chronicles 26:4–8; 1 Chronicles 25:3
- 39 1 Kings 3:4; 1 Chronicles 15:11; 1 Chronicles 12:28; 2 Chronicles 1:13; 2 Chronicles 1:3–4
- 40 Numbers 28:3–8; Exodus 29:38–42; 1 Kings 18:29; Ezra 3:3; Ezekiel 46:13–15
- 41 2 Chronicles 5:13; 1 Chronicles 25:1–6; Psalm 103:17; Ezra 3:11; 2 Chronicles 20:21
- 42 Psalm 150:3–6; Psalm 84:10; 2 Chronicles 29:25–28; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 1 Chronicles 25:6–7
- 43 2 Samuel 6:19–20; 1 Kings 8:66; Psalm 101:2; Joshua 24:15; Genesis 18:19
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
"O sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth" (ver.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)