| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1David built houses for himself in the city of David. And he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. | 1David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. |
| 2Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever. | 2Then David said, "Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve before him perpetually. |
| 3And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it. | 3David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD up to the place he had prepared for it. |
| 4And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: | 4David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: |
| 5of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with 120 of his brothers; | 5From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives. |
| 6of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with 220 of his brothers; | 6From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives. |
| 7of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with 130 of his brothers; | 7From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives. |
| 8of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with 200 of his brothers; | 8From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives. |
| 9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with 80 of his brothers; | 9From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives. |
| 10of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with 112 of his brothers. | 10From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives. |
| 11Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, | 11David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. |
| 12and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. | 12He told them: "You are the leaders of the Levites' families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the LORD God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it. |
| 13Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” | 13The first time you did not carry it; that is why the LORD God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it." |
| 14So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. | 14The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. |
| 15And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD. | 15The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command. |
| 16David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. | 16David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully. |
| 17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; | 17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah; |
| 18and with them their brothers of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. | 18along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. |
| 19The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; | 19The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; |
| 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; | 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style; |
| 21but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. | 21Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, as led by the director; |
| 22Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it. | 22Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter; |
| 23Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. | 23Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians of the ark; |
| 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, should blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. | 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark. |
| 25So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. | 25So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration. |
| 26And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. | 26When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the LORD's covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. |
| 27David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod. | 27David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; David also wore a linen ephod. |
| 28So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres. | 28All Israel brought up the ark of the LORD's covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments. |
| 29And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart. | 29As the ark of the LORD's covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him. |
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