4. David appointed some of the Levites to serve at the sacred chest; they were to play music and sing praises to the Lord God of Israel.
5. Asaph was their leader, and Zechariah was his assistant. Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and another man named Jeiel were appointed to play small harps and stringed instruments. Asaph himself played the cymbals,
6. and the two priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets every day in front of the sacred chest.
7. That same day, David instructed Asaph and his relatives for the first time to sing these praises to the Lord:
8. Praise the Lordand pray in his name!Tell everyonewhat he has done.
9. Sing praises to the Lord!Tell about his miracles.
10. Celebrate and worshiphis holy namewith all your heart.
11. Trust the Lordand his mighty power.Worship him always.
12. Remember his miraclesand all his wondersand his fair decisions.
13. You belong to the familyof Israel, his servant;you are his chosen ones,the descendants of Jacob.
14. The Lord is our God,bringing justiceeverywhere on earth.
15. We must never forgethis agreement and his promises,not in thousands of years.
16-17. God made an eternal promiseto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
18. when he said, “I'll give youthe land of Canaan.”
19. At the time there wereonly a few of us,and we were homeless.
20. We wandered from nationto nation, from one countryto another.
21. God did not let anyoneill-treat our people.Instead he protected usby punishing rulers
22. and telling them,“Don't touch my chosen leadersor harm my prophets!”