1The men carrying the ark set it inside the tent David had put up for it. They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God's presence. 2When David had finished sacrificing burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3He also distributed to every person in Israel-both men and women-a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

4David appointed some Levites to serve in front of the LORD's ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to the LORD God of Israel. 5Asaph was the head; Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph played the cymbals. 6The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the ark of God's promise.

7For the first time David entrusted Asaph and his relatives with the task of singing songs of thanks to the LORD:

8"Give thanks to the LORD. Call on his name. Make known among the nations what he has done.

9Sing to him. Make music to praise him. Meditate on all the miracles he has done.

10Brag about his holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

11Search for the LORD and his strength. Always seek his presence.

12Remember the miracles he performed, the amazing things he did and the judgments he pronounced,

13you descendants of Israel, his servant, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14"He is the LORD our God. His judgments are pronounced throughout the earth.

15Remember his promise forever, the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,

16the promise that he made to Abraham, and his sworn promise to Isaac.

17He confirmed it as a law for Jacob, as an everlasting promise to Israel,

18by saying, 'I will give you Canaan. It is your share of the inheritance.'

19"While they were few in number, a small group of foreigners living in that land,

20they wandered from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another.

21He didn't permit anyone to oppress them. He warned kings about them:

22'Do not touch my anointed ones or harm my prophets.'

23"Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Day after day announce that the LORD saves his people.

24Tell people about his glory. Tell all the nations about his miracles.

25"The LORD is great! He should be highly praised. He should be feared more than all [other] gods

26because all the gods of the nations are idols. The LORD made the heavens.

27Splendor and majesty are in his presence. Strength and joy are where he is.

28"Give to the LORD, you families of the nations. Give to the LORD glory and power.

29Give to the LORD the glory his name deserves. Bring an offering, and come to him. Worship the LORD in [his] holy splendor.

30Tremble in his presence, all the earth! "The earth stands firm; it cannot be moved.

31Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. Say to the nations, 'The LORD rules as king!'

32Let the sea and everything in it roar like thunder. Let the fields and everything in them rejoice.

33Then the trees in the forest will sing with joy in the presence of the LORD when he comes to judge the earth.

34"Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his mercy endures forever.

35Say, 'Rescue us, O God our Savior. Gather us and save us from the nations so that we may give thanks to your holy name and make your praise our glory.'

36Thanks be to the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting." Then all the people said amen and praised the LORD.

37David left Asaph and his relatives to serve continually in front of the ark of the LORD's promise, as the daily work required. 38David also left Obed Edom and 68 of his relatives [to serve there]. Obed Edom (Jeduthun's son) and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. 39David left Zadok and his priestly relatives to serve in the LORD's tent at the place of worship in Gibeon. 40They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to the LORD. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the LORD's Teachings that he gave Israel. 41With Zadok and his relatives were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of the Levites who had been selected, chosen by name, to give thanks to the LORD [by singing,] "His mercy endures forever." 42Also, Heman and Jeduthun played trumpets, cymbals, and the [other] musical instruments that accompany sacred songs. Jeduthun's sons were stationed at the gate.

43Then all the people went home. David went back to bless his family.