« | 1 Chronicles 16 | » |
1 They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.
2 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
3 Then he gave to every man and woman in all Israel a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins.
4 David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the LORD-- to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.
5 Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. Second to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres.
6 The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, played the trumpets regularly before the Ark of God's Covenant.
7 On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the LORD:
8 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
9 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
10 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD.
11 Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.
12 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
13 you children of his servant Israel, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 He is the LORD our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.
15 Remember his covenant forever-- the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
16 This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
18 "I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession."
19 He said this when you were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
20 They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
21 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:
22 "Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets."
23 Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
24 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
25 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.
26 The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the LORD made the heavens!
27 Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling.
28 O nations of the world, recognize the LORD, recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.
29 Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor.
30 Let all the earth tremble before him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, "The LORD reigns!"
32 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
33 Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise, for the LORD is coming to judge the earth.
34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
35 Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you."
36 Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted "Amen!" and praised the LORD.
37 David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the LORD's Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day.
38 This group included Obed-edom (son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eight other Levites as gatekeepers.
39 Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the LORD at the place of worship in Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the LORD.
40 They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the LORD each morning and evening on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying everything written in the Law of the LORD, as he had commanded Israel.
41 David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the LORD, for "his faithful love endures forever."
42 They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany their songs of praise to God. And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers.
43 Then all the people returned to their homes, and David turned and went home to bless his own family.
The New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Living Translation (NLT) is a modern English translation of the Bible that aims to make the Scriptures accessible and engaging for contemporary readers. First published in 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, the NLT was conceived as an effort to create a translation that combines both accuracy and readability. Unlike many other translations that focus on a word-for-word rendering of the original texts, the NLT employs a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, also known as dynamic equivalence. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and message of the original texts in a way that is natural and understandable in modern English.
One of the defining features of the NLT is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators, a team of over 90 evangelical scholars, aimed to create a text that would be approachable for a wide audience, including those who may find traditional translations challenging to read. The NLT’s language is contemporary and conversational, making it particularly effective for public reading, teaching, and personal study. This emphasis on readability helps ensure that the profound messages of the Bible are easily grasped and retained by readers from various backgrounds and levels of biblical knowledge.
The NLT also incorporates a rich array of study aids designed to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These include book introductions, footnotes, cross-references, and explanatory notes that provide historical, cultural, and theological context. These features are particularly useful for readers who seek a deeper comprehension of the Scriptures and their application to modern life. The translation also includes clear and concise headings that help guide readers through the narrative and thematic structure of each book, making it easier to follow and comprehend the overall message.
Despite its many strengths, the New Living Translation has faced some criticism, particularly from those who favor more literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach, while making the text more readable, can sometimes result in a loss of the precise nuances and literary qualities of the original languages. Some scholars believe that certain theological concepts might be oversimplified in the process of making the text more accessible. Nevertheless, the NLT remains one of the most popular and widely used translations today, valued for its readability, clarity, and ability to convey the timeless truths of the Bible in a way that resonates with contemporary readers.