4. Then David chose some of the Levites to serve before the Lord’S Holy Box. They had the job of celebrating and giving thanks and praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.
5. Asaph was the leader of the first group. His group played the cymbals. Zechariah was the leader of the second group. The other Levites were Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel. These men played the lyres and harps.
6. Benaiah and Jahaziel were the priests who always blew the trumpets before the Box of God’s Agreement.
7. This was when David first gave Asaph and his brothers the job of singing praises to the Lord.
8. Give thanks to the Lord and call out to him! Tell the nations what he has done!
9. Sing to him; sing praises to him. Tell about the amazing things he has done.
10. Be proud of his holy name. You followers of the Lord, be happy!
11. Depend on the Lord for strength. Always go to him for help.
12. Remember the amazing things he has done. Remember his miracles and his fair decisions.
13. The people of Israel are his servants. The descendants of Jacob are his chosen people.
14. The Lord is our God. He rules the whole world.
15. Remember his agreement forever, the promise he gave that will never end.
16. Remember the agreement he made with Abraham Remember his promise to Isaac.
17. He gave it as a law for Jacob, as an agreement with Israel that will last forever.
18. He said, “I will give you the land of Canaan. It will be your very own.”
19. At the time God said this, there were only a few of his people, and they were strangers there.
20. They traveled around from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
21. But the Lord did not let anyone mistreat them. He warned kings not to harm them.
22. He said, “Don’t hurt my chosen people. Don’t hurt my prophets.”
23. Let the whole world sing to the Lord! Tell the good news every day about how he saves us.