| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. | 1David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it. |
| 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. | 2Then he commanded, “No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The LORD has chosen them to carry the Ark of the LORD and to serve him forever.” |
| 3David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD up to the place he had prepared for it. | 3Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it. |
| 4David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: | 4This is the number of the descendants of Aaron (the priests) and the Levites who were called together: |
| 5From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives. | 5From the clan of Kohath, 120, with Uriel as their leader. |
| 6From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives. | 6From the clan of Merari, 220, with Asaiah as their leader. |
| 7From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives. | 7From the clan of Gershon, 130, with Joel as their leader. |
| 8From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives. | 8From the descendants of Elizaphan, 200, with Shemaiah as their leader. |
| 9From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives. | 9From the descendants of Hebron, 80, with Eliel as their leader. |
| 10From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives. | 10From the descendants of Uzziel, 112, with Amminadab as their leader. |
| 11David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. | 11Then David summoned the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and these Levite leaders: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. |
| 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. | 12He said to them, “You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. |
| 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." | 13Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the LORD our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.” |
| 14The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. | 14So the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to bring the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to Jerusalem. |
| 15The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command. | 15Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the LORD had instructed Moses. |
| 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. | 16David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals. |
| 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; | 17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari. |
| 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. | 18The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—Obed-edom and Jeiel. |
| 19The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; | 19The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound the bronze cymbals. |
| 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style; | 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps. |
| 21Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, as led by the director; | 21Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were chosen to play the lyres. |
| 22Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter; | 22Kenaniah, the head Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because of his skill. |
| 23Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians of the ark; | 23Berekiah and Elkanah were chosen to guard 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. | 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—all of whom were priests—were chosen to blow the trumpets as they marched in front of the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were chosen to guard the Ark. Moving the Ark to Jerusalem |
| 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. | 25Then David and the elders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the house of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration. |
| 26When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the LORD's covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. | 26And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. |
| 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. | 27David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment. |
| 28All Israel brought up the ark of the LORD's covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments. | 28So all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres. |
| 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. | 29But as the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him. |
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