1 Chronicles 14 - 16

David Takes More Wives

Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and craftsmen of walls and craftsmen of wood, to build a house for him. 2 Thus David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was lifted up, for the sake of His people Israel. 3 Then David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem:

Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

David Strikes Down the Philistines

8 Then the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, so all the Philistines went up to seek out David. And David heard of it and went out against them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10 Then David asked of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” And Yahweh said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” 11 So they came up to Baal-perazim, and there David struck them down; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim. 12 And they forsook their gods there; so David said the word, and they were burned with fire. 13 Then the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. 14 So David again asked of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go directly up after them; circle around from behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 15 And it will be that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 16 Then David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the camp of the Philistines from Gibeon even as far as Gezer. 17 Then the name of David went out into all the lands; and Yahweh brought the dread of him on all the nations.

The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem

Then David made houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 And David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for Yahweh chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.” 3 Then David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of Yahweh to its place which he had prepared for it. 4 And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: 5

of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his relatives;

of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives;

of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives;

of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and 200 of his relatives;

of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and 80 of his relatives;

of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.

11 Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites; set yourselves apart as holy, both you and your relatives, that you may bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 Because you did not carry it at the first, Yahweh our God broke out against us, for we did not seek Him according to the legal judgment.” 14 So the priests and the Levites set themselves apart as holy to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 15 And the sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of Yahweh. 16 Then David said to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise a sound of gladness. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, 18 and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; 20 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with harps set according to alamoth; 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to lead with lyres set according to the sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he had understanding. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark. 25 So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the commanders over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the house of Obed-edom with gladness. 26 Now this happened because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. And they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 Thus all Israel was bringing up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps, and lyres. 29 Now it happened as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.

A Tent for the Ark

And they brought in the ark of God and placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they brought burnt offerings and peace offerings near before God. 2 Then David completed offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings. And he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh. 3 And he apportioned to everyone of Israel, both men and women, to everyone a loaf of bread and a portion of meat and a raisin cake. 4 And he made some of the Levites ministers before the ark of Yahweh, even to bring remembrance and to thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to Yahweh.

Song of Thanksgiving

Oh give thanks to Yahweh, call upon His name;

Make known His acts among the peoples.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

Muse on all His wondrous deeds.

Boast in His holy name;

Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh be glad.

Inquire of Yahweh and His strength;

Seek His face continually.

Remember His wondrous deeds which He has done,

His miraculous signs and the judgments uttered by His mouth,

O seed of Israel His servant,

O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!

He is Yahweh our God;

His judgments are in all the earth.

Remember His covenant forever,

The word which He commanded for a thousand generations,

Which He cut with Abraham,

And His oath to Isaac.

Then He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,

To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,

As the portion of your inheritance,”

When you were only a few men in number,

Of little account, and sojourners in it,

And they wandered about from nation to nation,

And from one kingdom to another people,

He permitted no man to oppress them,

And He reproved kings for their sakes,

“Do not touch My anointed ones,

And against My prophets do no evil.”

Sing to Yahweh, all the earth;

Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.

Recount His glory among the nations,

His wondrous deeds among all the peoples.

For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised;

And He is more fearsome than all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But Yahweh made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him,

Strength and joy are in His place.

Ascribe to Yahweh, O families of the peoples,

Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of His name;

Lift up an offering, and come before Him;

Worship Yahweh in the splendor of holiness.

Tremble before Him, all the earth;

Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

And let them say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.”

Let the sea roar, as well as its fullness;

Let the field exult, and all that is in it.

Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Yahweh;

For He is coming to judge the earth.

Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good,

For His lovingkindness endures forever.

Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,

And gather us and deliver us from among the nations,

To give thanks to Your holy name

And revel in Your praise.”

Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel,

From everlasting to everlasting.

Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh.

Ministering Before the Ark

37 So he left behind Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required; 38 and Obed-edom with his 68 relatives; Obed-edom, also the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as gatekeepers. 39 Now he left behind Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the tabernacle of Yahweh in the high place, which was at Gibeon, 40 to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which He commanded Israel. 41 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because His lovingkindness endures forever. 42 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate. 43 Then all the people went each to his house, and David returned to bless his household.

1 Peter 5

Shepherd the Flock of God

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and not for dishonest gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished among your brethren who are in the world. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, strengthen, confirm, and ground you. 11 To Him be might forever and ever. Amen. 12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother as I regard him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and bearing witness that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

Proverbs 27

Instructions and Warnings

Do not boast about tomorrow,

For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Let a stranger praise you, and not your own mouth;

A foreigner, and not your own lips.

A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,

But the provocation of an ignorant fool is heavier than both of them.

Wrath is cruelty and anger is a flood,

But who can stand before jealousy?

Better is reproof that is revealed

Than love that is hidden.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

A satisfied soul tramples the honeycomb,

But to a hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.

Like a bird that wanders from her nest,

So is a man who wanders from his place.

Oil and incense make the heart glad,

So counsel from the soul is sweet to his friend.

Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend,

And do not come to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster;

Better is one who dwells near than a brother far away.

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

That I may respond with a word to him who reproaches me.

A prudent man sees evil and hides,

The simple pass on and are punished.

Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger;

And for a foreign woman seize it as a pledge.

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,

It will be counted as a curse to him.

A constant dripping on a day of steady rain

And a contentious woman are alike;

He who would restrain her restrains the wind,

And grasps oil with his right hand.

Iron sharpens iron,

So one man sharpens another.

He who guards the fig tree will eat its fruit,

And he who keeps watch for his master will be honored.

As in water face reflects face,

So the heart of man reflects man.

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,

So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,

And each is tested by the mouth that praises him.

Though you pound an ignorant fool in a mortar with a pestle in the midst of crushed grain,

His folly will not turn aside from him.

Know well the condition of your flocks,

And pay attention to your herds;

For wealth is not forever,

Neither is a crown from generation to generation.

When the grass disappears and the vegetation appears,

And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

The lambs will be for your clothing,

And the goats will bring the price of a field,

And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food,

For the food of your household,

And sustenance for your maidens.