A Walk Through The Word

David Commissions Solomon to Build the Temple

28 David assembled in Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, including the commanders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions that served the king, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, the officials who were in charge of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, the eunuchs, and the warriors, including the most skilled of them.

² King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a temple where the ark of the Lord’s covenant could be placed as a footstool for our God.^[a] I have made the preparations for building it. ³ But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor me,^[b] for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.’ ⁴ The Lord God of Israel chose me out of my father’s entire family to become king over Israel and have a permanent dynasty.^[c] Indeed,^[d] he chose Judah as leader, and my father’s family within Judah, and then he picked me out from among my father’s sons and made me king over all Israel.^{[e] 5} From all the many sons the Lord has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule on his behalf over Israel.^{[f] 6} He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my temple and my courts, for I have chosen him to become my son and I will become his father. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom permanently, if he remains committed to obeying my commands and regulations, as you are doing this day.’^{[g] 8} So now, in the sight of all Israel, the Lord’s assembly, and in the hearing of our God, I say this:^[h] Carefully observe^[i] all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may possess this good land and may leave it as a permanent inheritance for your children after you.

⁹ “And you, Solomon my son, obey^[j] the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit,^[k] for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him,^[l] but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. ¹⁰ Realize^[m] now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”

¹¹ David gave to his son Solomon the blueprints for the temple porch,^[n] its buildings, its treasuries,^[o] its upper areas, its inner rooms, and the room^[p] for atonement. ¹² He gave him^[q] the blueprints of all he envisioned^[r] for the courts of the Lord’s temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of God’s temple, and the storehouses for the holy items.

¹³ He gave him the regulations^[s] for the divisions of priests and Levites, for all the assigned responsibilities within the Lord’s temple, and for all the items used in the service of the Lord’s temple.

¹⁴ He gave him^[t] the prescribed weight for all the gold items to be used in various types of service in the Lord’s temple, for all the silver items to be used in various types of service,^{[u] 15} for the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, for the silver lampstands, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, according to the prescribed use of each lampstand, ¹⁶ for the gold used in the display tables, including the amount to be used in each table, for the silver to be used in the silver tables, ¹⁷ for the pure gold used for the meat forks, bowls, and jars, for the small gold bowls, including the weight for each bowl, for the small silver bowls, including the weight for each bowl, ¹⁸ and for the refined gold of the incense altar.

He gave him^[v] the blueprint for the seat^[w] of the gold cherubim that spread their wings^[x] and provide shelter for the ark of the Lord’s covenant.

¹⁹ David said,^[y] “All this I put in writing as the Lord directed me and gave me insight regarding the details of the blueprints.”^[z]

²⁰ David said to his son Solomon: “Be strong and brave! Do it! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic!^[aa] For the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you or abandon you before all the work for the service of the Lord’s temple is finished. ²¹ Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites who will perform all the service of God’s temple. All the willing and skilled men are ready to assist you in all the work and perform their service.^[ab] The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions.”^[ac]

The People Contribute to the Project

29 King David said to the entire assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is just an inexperienced young man,^[ad] and the task is great, for this palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. ² So I have made every effort^[ae] to provide what is needed for the temple of my God, including the gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood,^[af] as well as a large amount of onyx, settings of antimony and other stones, all kinds of precious stones, and alabaster. ³ Now, to show my commitment to the temple of my God, I donate my personal treasure of gold and silver to the temple of my God, in addition to all that I have already supplied for this holy temple. ⁴ This includes 3,000 talents^[ag] of gold from Ophir and 7,000 talents of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, ⁵ for gold and silver items, and for all the work of the craftsmen. Who else wants to contribute to the Lord today?”

⁶ The leaders of the families, the leaders of the Israelite tribes, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, and the supervisors of the king’s work contributed willingly. ⁷ They donated for the service of God’s temple 5,000 talents^[ah] and 10,000 darics^[ai] of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron. ⁸ All who possessed precious^[aj] stones donated them to the treasury of the Lord’s temple, which was under the supervision of Jehiel the Gershonite. ⁹ The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the Lord with a willing attitude;^[ak] King David was also very happy.^[al]

David Praises the Lord

¹⁰ David praised the Lord before the entire assembly:^[am]

“O Lord God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore! ¹¹ O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign^[an] over all the sky and earth! You, Lord, have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler^[ao] of all. ¹² You are the source of wealth and honor;^[ap] you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all.^{[aq] 13} Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name!

¹⁴ “But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much?^[ar] Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.^{[as] 15} For we are resident foreigners and temporary settlers^[at] in your presence, as all our ancestors were;^[au] our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security.^{[av] 16} O Lord our God, all this wealth, which we have collected to build a temple for you to honor your holy name, comes from you; it all belongs to you. ¹⁷ I know, my God, that you examine thoughts^[aw] and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives^[ax] I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you. ¹⁸ O Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, always maintain these motives of your people and keep them devoted to you.^{[ay] 19} Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.”^[az]

²⁰ David told the entire assembly: “Praise the Lord your God!” So the entire assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors; they bowed down and stretched out flat on the ground before the Lord and the king.

David Designates Solomon King

²¹ The next day they made sacrifices and offered burnt sacrifices to the Lord (1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs), along with their accompanying drink offerings and many other sacrifices for all Israel. ²² They held a feast^[ba] before the Lord that day and celebrated.^[bb]

Then they designated Solomon, David’s son, as king a second time;^[bc] before the Lord they anointed him as ruler and Zadok as priest. ²³ Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king in place of his father David; he was successful and all Israel was loyal to him.^{[bd] 24} All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.^{[be] 25} The Lord greatly magnified Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him greater majesty than any king of Israel before him.^[bf]

David’s Reign Comes to an End

²⁶ David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. ²⁷ He reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years and in Jerusalem thirty-three years. ²⁸ He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor.^[bg] His son Solomon succeeded him. ²⁹ King David’s accomplishments, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Samuel the prophet, the Annals of Nathan the prophet, and the Annals of Gad the prophet.^{[bh] 30} Recorded there are all the facts about his reign and accomplishments, and an account of the events that involved him, Israel, and all the neighboring kingdoms.^[bi]

⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.)^{[a] 8} But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous^[b] by his blood,^[c] we will be saved through him from God’s wrath.^{[d] 10} For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? ¹¹ Not^[e] only this, but we also rejoice^[f] in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

The Amplification of Justification

¹² So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people^[g] because^[h] all sinned— ¹³ for before the law was given,^[i] sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin^[j] when there is no law. ¹⁴ Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam (who is a type^[k] of the coming one) transgressed.^{[l] 15} But the gracious gift is not like the transgression.^[m] For if the many died through the transgression of the one man,^[n] how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply to the many! ¹⁶ And the gift is not like the one who sinned.^[o] For judgment, resulting from the one transgression,^[p] led to condemnation, but^[q] the gracious gift from the many failures^[r] led to justification. ¹⁷ For if, by the transgression of the one man,^[s] death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently,^[t] just as condemnation^[u] for all people^[v] came^[w] through one transgression,^[x] so too through the one righteous act^[y] came righteousness leading to life^[z] for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man^[aa] many^[ab] were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of one man^[ac] many^[ad] will be constituted righteous. ²⁰ Now the law came in^[ae] so that the transgression^[af] may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, ²¹ so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm 15^[a]

A psalm of David.

¹² These working groups of gatekeepers, corresponding to the chief men, had responsibilities like their brothers to serve in the house of Yahweh. ¹³ And they cast lots, small and great alike, by their fathers’ houses, for their gates.^{[a] 14} And the lot fell to the east to Shelemiah. As for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor,^[b] they cast lots. And his lot came out for the north. ¹⁵ To Obed-Edom went out the south, and to his sons, the storehouses. ¹⁶ For Shuppim and Hosah it went out for the west, at the gate of Shalleketh, on the road that goes up, guard for guard. ¹⁷ To the east, six Levites; to the north, four daily; to the south, four daily; and at the storerooms, two by two. ¹⁸ For the court to the west, four at the road, two at the court. ¹⁹ These were the working groups of the gatekeepers among the sons of the Korahites and among the sons of Merari.

Treasurers and Other Officials

²⁰ And of the Levites: Ahijah was over the treasuries of the house of God and over the treasuries of the sanctified objects. ²¹ The sons of Ladan: the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the families^[c] belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. ²² The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother, were over the treasuries of the house of Yahweh. ²³ Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Ozzielites: ²⁴ Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was commander over the treasuries. ²⁵ And his brothers: from Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zikri his son, and Shelomoth his son. ²⁶ That Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasuries of the sanctified objects that King David and the heads of the families^[d] to the commanders of thousands and hundreds and the commanders of the army had dedicated. ²⁷ From the battles and from the spoil they had dedicated these things to strengthen the house of Yahweh. ²⁸ And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated—all the dedicated gifts were under the hand of Shelomith and his brothers. ²⁹ For the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were appointed to the duties outside of Israel as officials and as judges. ³⁰ For the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred men of ability, were over the administration of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the work of Yahweh and for the service of the king. ³¹ For the Hebronites: Jeriah the chief of the Hebronites for the genealogy for the families.^[e] (In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were examined, and there was found among them mighty warriors of strength at Jazer in Gilead.) ³² And his brothers, sons of ability, were two thousand seven hundred heads of the families,^[f] and King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for every matter of God and matter of the king.

Military Divisions

27 And as for the number of the Israelites,^[g] the heads of families,^[h] the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officials who serve the king in all matters of the working groups that came and went, month by month, throughout all the months of the year, each working group: twenty-four thousand.

² Over the first working group for the first month: Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ³ From the sons of Perez who was the chief of the commanders of the armies for the first month. ⁴ And over the working groups of the second month: Dodai the Ahohite and his working group, and Mikloth the commander. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ⁵ The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the chief priest. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ⁶ This was Benaiah who was a mighty warrior of thirty, and over the thirty and his working group was Ammizabad his son. ⁷ The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab and his son Zebadiah after him. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ⁸ The fifth, for the fifth month, the commander was Shamhuth the Izrahite. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ⁹ The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ¹⁰ The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, from the sons of Ephraim. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ¹¹ The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ¹² The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ¹³ The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ¹⁴ The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite from the sons of Ephraim. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand. ¹⁵ The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand.

Leaders of the Tribes and Other High Ranking Officials

¹⁶ And over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites: the commander was Eliezer the son of Zikri. For the Simeonites: Shephatiah the son of Maacah. ¹⁷ For Levi: Hashabiah the son of Kemuel. For Aaron, Zadok. ¹⁸ For Judah: Elihu, from the brothers of David. For Issachar: Omri the son of Michael. ¹⁹ For Zebulun: Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah. For Naphtali: Jerimoth the son of Azriel. ²⁰ For the Ephraimites: Hoshea the son of Azaziah. For the half-tribe of Manasseh: Joel the son of Pedaiah. ²¹ For the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo the son of Zechariah. For Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner. ²² For Dan: Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the commanders of the tribes of Israel. ²³ And David did not take a census of those twenty years old or under^[i] because Yahweh promised^[j] to make Israel more numerous than the stars of heaven. ²⁴ Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but he did not finish. But wrath came upon Israel concerning this, and the number was not included in the chronicles^[k] of King David.

²⁵ And over the treasury rooms of the king was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. And over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the unwalled villages, and in the towers was Jonathan the son of Uzziah. ²⁶ And over those who did the work in the field to till the soil was Ezri the son of Kelub. ²⁷ And over the vineyards was Shemei the Ramathite. And over the produce in the vineyards for the storehouses of the wine was Zabdi the Shiphmite. ²⁸ And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the Shephelah was Baal-Hanan the Gederite. And over the treasury houses of olive oil was Joash. ²⁹ And over the cattle pastured in the Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. And over the cattle in the valley was Shaphat the son of Adlai. ³⁰ And over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. And over the female donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite.^[l] And over the sheep was Jaziz the Hagrite. ³¹ All of these were officials of the property of King David.

³² And Jehonathan the uncle of David was an adviser, a man of insight, and he was a scribe. And Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the sons of the king. ³³ And Ahithophel was an adviser to the king, and Hushai the Arkite was a friend of the king.

³⁴ And after Ahithophel came Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. And Joab was the commander of the king’s army.

The Promise to Abraham Secured through Faith

¹³ For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants, that he would be heir of the world, was not through the law, but through the righteousness by faith. ¹⁴ For if those of the law are heirs, faith is rendered void and the promise is nullified. ¹⁵ For the law produces wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. ¹⁶ Because of this, it is by faith, in order that it may be according to grace, so that the promise may be secure to all the descendants, not only to those of the law, but also to those of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ¹⁷ (just as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”)^[a] before God, in whom he believed, the one who makes the dead alive and who calls the things that are not as though they are, ¹⁸ who against hope believed in hope, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was said, “so will your descendants be.”^{[b] 19} And not being weak in faith, he considered his own body as good as dead, ^[c] because he^[d] was approximately a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ And he did not waver in unbelief at the promise of God, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God ²¹ and being fully convinced that what he had promised, he was also able to do. ²² Therefore^[e] it was credited to him for righteousness. ²³ But it was not written for the sake of him alone that it was credited to him, ²⁴ but also for the sake of us to whom it is going to be credited, to those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵ who was handed over on account of our trespasses, and was raised up in the interest of our justification.^[f]

Reconciliation with God through Faith in Christ

5 Therefore, because we^[g] have been declared righteous by faith, we have^[h] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we^[i] know that affliction produces patient endurance, ⁴ and patient endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, ⁵ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The Folly of the Godless and God’s Final Triumph

For the music director. Of David.^[a]

David Organizes the Priests

24 And as for the sons of Aaron, these were their divisions. The sons of Aaron were Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ² And Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons,^[a] so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. ³ And David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their appointments for their service. ⁴ And more sons of Eleazar were found as heads of the men than the sons of Ithamar, so they divided them to the sons of Eleazar to be sixteen heads over the house of the fathers, and to the sons of Ithamar over the house of the fathers were eight heads. ⁵ They divided them by lot all alike,^[b] for they were commanders of the sanctuary and commanders of God from among the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. ⁶ And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel, the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them before the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the families^[c] of the priests and Levites, one father’s house drawn by Lot for Eleazar and one drawn by lot for Ithamar. ⁷ And the first lot went out to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, ⁸ the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, ⁹ the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin, ¹⁰ the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, ¹¹ the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shekaniah, ¹² the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, ¹³ the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, ¹⁴ the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, ¹⁵ the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Ha-Pizzez, ¹⁶ the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Ezekiel, ¹⁷ the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul, ¹⁸ the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. ¹⁹ These were their appointments for their service to come into the house of Yahweh according to their custom by the hand of Aaron their father, as Yahweh the God of Israel had commanded him.

²⁰ And as for the remainder of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. ²¹ Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief. ²² Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons Shelomoth, Jahath. ²³ Of the sons of Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. ²⁴ The sons of Uzziel, Micah; the sons of Micah, Shamur. ²⁵ The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. ²⁶ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, his son.^{[d] 27} The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, his son,^[e] Shoham, Zakkur, and Ibri. ²⁸ Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. ²⁹ Of Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel. ³⁰ And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to the house of their fathers. ³¹ And lots were also cast for these, just as their brothers, the sons of Aaron, before David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families^[f] for the priests and for the Levites the fathers, on the principle of the chief and younger brother alike.^[g]

David Organizes the Musicians

25 And David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with stringed instruments, with harps, and with cymbals. And their inventory of the men of the work and for their duty was: ² for the sons of Asaph: Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the hand^[h] of Asaph, who prophesied under the hands^[i] of the king. ³ Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah,^[j] Heshabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands^[k] of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the stringed instrument with thanksgiving and praise to Yahweh. ⁴ Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. ⁵ All these were sons to Heman, the seer of the king, according to the words of God to raise a horn.^[l] And God had given to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶ All these were under the direction^[m] of their father in the music of the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, harps, and stringed instruments for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction^[n] of the king. ⁷ And their number, along with their brothers, trained singers, all the skilled people for Yahweh, were two hundred and eighty-eight. ⁸ And they cast lots for responsibilities on the principle of small and great alike,^[o] teacher with student.

⁹ And the first lot for Asaph went out to Joseph; the second to Gedaliahu; he and his brothers and his twelve sons. ¹⁰ The third, Zakkur, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹¹ the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹² the fifth, Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹³ the sixth, Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁴ the seventh, Jesarelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁵ the eighth, Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁶ the ninth, Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁷ the tenth, Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁸ eleventh, Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁹ the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁰ to the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²¹ to the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²² to the fifteenth, to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²³ to the sixteenth, to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁴ to the seventeenth, to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁵ to the eighteenth, to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁶ to the nineteenth, to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁷ to the twentieth, to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁸ to the twenty-first, to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁹ to the twenty-second, to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ³⁰ to the twenty-third, to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ³¹ to the twenty-fourth, to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.

The Divisions of the Gatekeepers

26 As for the working groups of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, from the sons of Asaph. ² And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, ³ Elam the fifth, Jehohana the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. ⁴ And Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, ⁵ Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him. ⁶ And to Shemaiah his son were sons born who were rulers in the house of their father, for they were mighty warriors of ability. ⁷ The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were sons of ability, Elihu and Semakiah. ⁸ All these from the sons of Obed-Edom, they and their sons, and their brothers were men of ability with strength for service; sixty-two of Obed-Edom. ⁹ And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, sons of ability, eighteen. ¹⁰ And Hosah, from the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (though he was not firstborn, his father appointed him as chief), ¹¹ Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.

Abraham’s Faith Counted as Righteousness

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has found? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.”^{[a] 4} Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited according to grace, but according to his due. ⁵ But to the one who does not work, but who believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks about the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁹ Therefore, is this blessing for those who are circumcised^[c], or also for those who are uncircumcised^[d]? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.”^{[e] 10} How then was it credited? While he^[f] was circumcised^[g] or uncircumcised^[h]? Not while circumcised^[i] but while uncircumcised^[j]! ¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal^[k] of the righteousness by faith which he had while uncircumcised^[l], so that he could be the father of all who believe although they are uncircumcised^[m], so that righteousness could be credited to them,^{[n] 12} and the father of those who are circumcised^[o] to those who are not only from the circumcision, but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised^[p].

Trust in the Salvation of Yahweh

For the music director. A psalm of David.^[a]

22 Then David said, “This will be the house of Yahweh God, and this altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

David’s Preparations for Building the Temple

² And David commanded to assemble the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel and appointed stone craftsmen to cut dressed stones to build the house of God. ³ And David provided much iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for the seams, and abundant copper that could not be weighed, ⁴ and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought abundant cedars to David. ⁵ Then David said, “Solomon my son is a boy and inexperienced, and the house built for Yahweh must be exceedingly great in fame and splendor throughout every land. I will make preparations for him.” So David provided abundant materials before he died.

Solomon Charged with Building the Temple of Yahweh

⁶ Then he called to Solomon his son and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel. ⁷ And David said to Solomon his son, “I myself had in my heart to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, ⁸ but it happened that the word of Yahweh came over me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made much war; you shall not build a house for my name because you have shed much blood upon the ground before me. ⁹ Behold, a son shall be born to you; he himself will be a man of rest, and I will give rest to him from all his enemies all around, for his name will be Solomon, and peace and quietness I will give to Israel in his days. ¹⁰ He himself will build a house for my name, and he himself will be to me a son, and I will be to him as a father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ ¹¹ Now, my son, Yahweh will be with you, that you may succeed and build the house of Yahweh your God as he has spoken concerning you. ¹² Only may Yahweh give to you understanding and insight that he might give you charge over Israel and the keeping of the law of Yahweh your God. ¹³ Then you will prosper if you take care to do the statutes and judgments which Yahweh commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and be courageous; fear not and do not be dismayed. ¹⁴ Now see, with great effort I have made provision for the house of Yahweh: 100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron that cannot be weighed, for there is an abundance. Also timber and stone I have provided, but to these you should add. ¹⁵ And with you there is an abundance of craftsmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and everyone skilled in every kind of craftsmanship ¹⁶ with gold, silver, bronze, and iron without number. Arise and work! Yahweh will be with you!”

¹⁷ And David commanded all the commanders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, ¹⁸ “Is not Yahweh your God with you? And has he not given you rest all around? For he has put in my hand the inhabitants of the land, and the land is subdued before Yahweh and before his people. ¹⁹ Now set your heart and mind to seek Yahweh your Go, and arise and build the sanctuary of Yahweh God, that the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and the holy vessels of God might be brought into the house built for the name of Yahweh.

David Organizes the Levites

23 Now David was old and full of days. And he made Solomon his son king over Israel. ² And he assembled all the commanders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. ³ And the Levites thirty years old and above were counted, and their number according to their head count for the men was thirty-eight thousand. ⁴ Of these, David said, “Twenty-four thousand are to direct the work of the house of Yahweh, along with six thousand judges and officials, ⁵ four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand offering praise with the instruments that I have made for praise.” ⁶ And David organized them in divisions according to the sons of Levi: to Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

⁷ For the Gershonites were Ladan and Shimei. ⁸ The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief and Zetham and Joel, three. ⁹ The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the families^[a] of Ladan. ¹⁰ And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah; these four were the sons of Shimei. ¹¹ And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons. They were enrolled as one for the house of a father.

¹² The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. ¹³ The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was set apart to consecrate the most holy things. He and his sons were to burn offerings forever before Yahweh to serve him and to bless in his name forever. ¹⁴ But Moses the man of God and his sons were reckoned among the tribe of Levi. ¹⁵ The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. ¹⁶ The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. ¹⁷ And the sons of Eliezer were Rehabiah, the head. And Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. ¹⁸ The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. ¹⁹ The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. ²⁰ The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

²¹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. ²² And Eleazar died, and he did not have sons, but only daughters. And the sons of Kish, their relatives, married them. ²³ The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

²⁴ These were the sons of Levi according to the house of their fathers, the heads of the families,^[b] according to their enrollment, by the number of the names, according to their head count, who were to do the work of the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and above. ²⁵ For David said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. ²⁶ And also, the Levites do not need to carry the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service.” ²⁷ For by the last words of David, they are the number of the sons of Levi, from twenty years old and above. ²⁸ For their station was to assist^[c] the sons of Aaron with the service of the house of Yahweh, over the courtyards, over the chambers, and over the cleansing of all the sanctified objects, and with the work of the service of the house of God, ²⁹ and with the rows of bread, the flour, the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and for all the amounts and measurements. ³⁰ And they were to stand every morning,^[d] thanking and praising Yahweh, and likewise in the evening, ³¹ and for every burnt offering offered to Yahweh, on Sabbaths, on new moon festivals, and at the appointed feasts, according to the customary number required of them,^[e] regularly before Yahweh. ³² And they shall keep the responsibility of the tent of assembly,^[f] the responsibility of the sanctified objects, and the responsibility of the sons of Aaron, their brothers, to serve the house of Yahweh.

The Entire World Guilty of Sin

⁹ What then? Do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, ¹⁰ just as it is written,

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, in order that every mouth may be closed and the whole world may become accountable to God. ²⁰ For by the works of the law no person will be declared righteous^[f] before him, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith Revealed

²¹ But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets— ²² that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ^[g] to all who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified as a gift by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God made publicly available as the mercy seat^[h] through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because of the passing over of previously committed sins, ²⁶ in the forbearance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just and the one who justifies the person by faith^[i] in Jesus.

²⁷ Therefore, where is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law^[j] of faith. ²⁸ For we consider a person to be justified by faith apart from the works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, also of the Gentiles, ³⁰ since God is one, who will justify those who are circumcised^[k] by faith and those who are uncircumcised^[l] through faith. ³¹ Therefore, do we nullify the law through faith? May it never be! But we uphold the law.

Human Faithlessness and God’s Faithfulness

For the music director; on the Sheminith.^[a] A psalm of David.^[b]

The Ammonites Humiliate David’s Messengers

19 And it happened that after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites^[a] died, and his son reigned in his place. ² And David said, “I will deal kindly with Hanun the son of Nahash because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And the servants of David came to the land of the Ammonites,^[b] to Hanun, to comfort him. ³ But the princes of the Ammonites^[c] said to Hanun, “Do you think^[d] because David sent comforters to you that David honors your father? Is it not for the purpose of exploring so as to overthrow and spy out the land that his servants have come to you?” ⁴ So Hanun took the servants of David and shaved them and cut off their garments at the middle, up to the buttocks, and sent them away. ⁵ And they went and told David concerning the men, and he inquired of them, for the men were very disgraced. And the king said, “Dwell in Jericho until your beards grow out; then return.”

⁶ And when the Ammonites^[e] saw that they made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites^[f] sent one thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves horses and chariots from Aram-Naharaim, Aram-Maacah, and Zobah. ⁷ And they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah and his people, and they came and encamped before Medeba. And the Ammonites^[g] were gathered from their cities and came to the battle. ⁸ And when David heard, he sent Joab and the entire army of mighty warriors. ⁹ And the Ammonites^[h] went out and took up positions for battle at the entrance of the city. And the kings who had come were alone in the field.

¹⁰ When Joab saw that there was a battle line^[i] against him at the front and the back, he chose from among the chosen men in Israel and arranged them to meet Aram. ¹¹ And the remainder of the people he put in the hand of Abishai his brother, and they were arranged to meet the Ammonites.^{[j] 12} And he said, “If Aram is too strong for me, then you must be a help to me, but if the Ammonites^[k] are too strong for you, then I will help you. ¹³ Be strong! Let us strengthen ourselves on behalf of our people and on behalf of the cities of our God. And may Yahweh do what is good in his eyes.” ¹⁴ And Joab and the people who were with him drew near before Aram for battle, and they fled before him. ¹⁵ And when the Ammonites^[l] saw that Aram had fled, they also fled before Abishai his brother, and they came to the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ And when Aram saw that they were defeated before Israel, they sent messengers and brought out Aram, who was from beyond the Euphrates,^[m] with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer before them. ¹⁷ And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan. And he came to them and was arrayed against them. Then David was arrayed to meet Aram in battle, and they fought with him. ¹⁸ And Aram fled before Israel. And David killed from Aram the men of seven thousand chariots and forty thousand foot soldiers, and he put to death Shophach the commander of the army. ¹⁹ And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with David and became servants to him. So Aram was no longer willing to help the Ammonites.^[n]

The Capture of Rabbah

20 And it happened that in the spring time of year,^[o] the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led the troops of the army and destroyed the land of the Ammonites.^[p] And he came and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and destroyed it. ² And David took the crown of their king from his head and found it to weigh a talent of gold. And in it was a precious stone. Then it was placed upon the head of David. And he brought out the booty of the city, a large amount. ³ And the people who were in it he brought out, and he set them to work with saws and iron implements and axes.^[q] Thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites.^[r] Then David returned, and all the nation went with him.

The Philistine Giants Slain

⁴ And after this there arose a war in Gezer with the Philistines. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaim. And they were subdued. ⁵ And again there was war with the Philistines. And Elhanan son of Jair struck down Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. ⁶ And again there was war in Gath. And there was a very tall^[s] man there, and he had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all.^[t] He himself was also a descendant of the Rephaim. ⁷ And he taunted Israel, but Jehonathan son of Shimea, brother of David, struck him down. ⁸ These were born to the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

The Census of David

21 Then Satan^[u] stood against Israel and urged David to count Israel. ² So David said to Joab and to the commanders of the nation, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan and bring a report to me that I might know their number.” ³ But Joab said, “May Yahweh add to the people a hundred times what they are! Are they not, O my lord the king, all of them the king’s servants? Why does my lord seek this? Why would he bring guilt to Israel?” ⁴ But the word of the king prevailed over Joab. Then he went about through all Israel and came to Jerusalem. ⁵ And Joab gave the number of the enrollment of the people to David. And it happened that all Israel was one million one hundred thousand men drawing a sword, and in Judah were four hundred and seventy thousand men drawing a sword. ⁶ But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the word of the king was repulsive to Joab.

⁷ But this word was displeasing in the eyes of God, and he struck Israel. ⁸ Then David said to God, “I have sinned severely in that I have done this thing. But now, please forgive the sin of your servant, for I have been very foolish.” ⁹ Then Yahweh spoke to Gad the seer of David, saying, ¹⁰ “Go, you must speak to David, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh: “Three choices I offer to you. Choose one of them for yourself that I will do to you.”’” ¹¹ So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says Yahweh: ‘Choose for yourself: ¹² whether three years of famine or three months of devastation by your enemies while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or three days of the sword of Yahweh, with disease in the land and the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the territory in Israel.’ So now, see what word I should return to my sender.” ¹³ Then David said to Gad, “I am very troubled.^[v] Let me into the hand of Yahweh, for his compassion is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of a man.”

¹⁴ So Yahweh sent a pestilence through Israel, and seventy thousand men from Israel fell. ¹⁵ And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, and as he was about to destroy it, Yahweh saw and was grieved on account of the calamity. Then he said to the angel, the destroyer, “It is enough; slacken your hand.” And the angel of Yahweh was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ¹⁶ And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and heaven, with his sword drawn in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. ¹⁷ Then David said to God, “Was it not I who gave a command to count the people? Now I am he who has sinned, and I have certainly done wickedness, but these sheep, what have they done? O Yahweh, my God, please let your hand be against me and against the house of my father, but against your people, let there be no plague.”

David Builds an Altar

¹⁸ Now the angel of Yahweh had spoken to Gad to say to David that David should go up and erect an altar for Yahweh. ¹⁹ So David went up at the word of Gad that he had spoken in the name of Yahweh. ²⁰ Now Ornan was threshing wheat, and Ornan turned and saw the angel, and his four sons with him hid themselves. ²¹ Then David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David. And he went out from the threshing floor, and they bowed down to David, faces to the ground. ²² Then David said to Ornan, “Please give me the place, the threshing floor, that I might build an altar on it to Yahweh; at full price please give it to me, that the plague against the people might be stopped.” ²³ And Ornan said to David, “Take it to yourself; let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. See, I give the cattle for the burnt offerings and threshing sledges for the wood and wheat for the grain offering—I give it all.” ²⁴ But King David said to Ornan, “No, for I will certainly buy it at full value; indeed, I will not take what is yours for Yahweh and offer burnt offerings for nothing.” ²⁵ So David gave to Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place. ²⁶ Then David built an altar there to Yahweh, and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and he called to Yahweh. And he answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. ²⁷ Then Yahweh commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath.

²⁸ At that time, when David saw that Yahweh answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. ²⁹ Now the tabernacle of Yahweh that Moses had made in the desert and the altar of burnt offering were at that time at the high place of Gibeon. ³⁰ But David was not able to go before it to seek God, for he was afraid on account of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.

²⁵ For circumcision is of value if you do the law, but if you should be a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶ Therefore, if the uncircumcised person follows the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be credited for circumcision? ²⁷ And the uncircumcised person by nature who carries out the law will judge you who, though provided with the precise written code^[a] and circumcision are a transgressor of the law. ²⁸ For the Jew is not one outwardly^[b], nor is circumcision outwardly^[c], in the flesh. ²⁹ But the Jew is one inwardly^[d], and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter, whose praise is not from people but from God.

Jews Still Have an Advantage

3 Therefore, what is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the use of circumcision? ² Much in every way. For first, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. ³ What is the result^[e] if some refused to believe? Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? ⁴ May it never be! But let God be true but every human being a liar, just as it is written,

⁵ But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, who inflicts wrath, is not unjust, is he? (I am speaking according to a human perspective.) ⁶ May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? ⁷ But if by my lying, the truth of God abounded to his glory, why am I also still condemned as a sinner? ⁸ And why not (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, in order that good may come of it? Their^[h] condemnation is just!

Confidence in Yahweh’s Righteousness

For the music director. Of David.^[a]

Worship and the Ark

³⁷ So he^[a] left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to minister before the ark regularly as each day required,^{[b] 38} and he left Obed-Edom with his sixty-eight brothers. And Obed-Edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were gatekeepers. ³⁹ And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of Yahweh at the high place which was at Gibeon ⁴⁰ to offer burnt offerings regularly to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the law of Yahweh that he commanded concerning Israel. ⁴¹ And with them were Heman and Jeduthun and the remainder of those chosen, who were designated by name to give thanks to Yahweh, for his loyal love is everlasting. ⁴² And Heman and Jeduthun with them had trumpets and cymbals for making music, along with instruments for the song of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were at the gate. ⁴³ Then all the people went each to his house, and David turned to bless his household.

Yahweh’s Covenant with David

17 And as David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is under tent curtains.” ² And Nathan said to David, “Whatever is in your heart, do, for God is with you.”

³ And it happened that same night the word of God came to Nathan, saying, ⁴ “Go and say to David my servant, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “You are not to build a house for me to live in, ⁵ for I have not lived in a house from the day that I brought out Israel unto this day. I have been from tent to tent and from tabernacle to tabernacle. ⁶ In every place I have moved about, did I say one word with the judges of Israel I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, ‘Why have you not built for me a house of cedar?’”’ ⁷ So now, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over my people Israel, ⁸ and I have been with you wherever you went and have cut down your enemies from before you and will make a name for you, like the name of the great ones on the earth. ⁹ And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them,^[c] and they^[d] shall dwell in their^[e] place and be in anguish no longer. And wicked men will no longer wear them down as before, ¹⁰ from the day that I commanded judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue your enemies, and I declare to you that Yahweh will build for you a house.^{[f] 11} And it shall be that when your days are fulfilled to go and sleep with your ancestors,^[g] then I will raise up your seed after you, who will be one of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹² He himself will build for me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. ¹³ I myself will be a father to him, and he himself will be a son to me. And I will not remove my steadfast love from him as I took it away from whoever was before you. ¹⁴ And I will establish him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.”’” ¹⁵ According to all these words and according to all this revelation, thus did Nathan speak to David.

David’s Prayer

¹⁶ Then King David went and sat before Yahweh and said, “Who am I, O Yahweh God, and what is my house that you have brought me thus far? ¹⁷ And this was a small matter in your eyes, O God. And you have spoken concerning the house of your servant for a long time and have shown me future generations to come,^[h] O Yahweh God. ¹⁸ What more^[i] can David do to you for honoring your servant? Now you know your servant. ¹⁹ O Yahweh, for the sake of your servant and according to your heart you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things. ²⁰ O Yahweh, there is none like you, and there is no God except you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. ²¹ And who is like your people Israel, the one nation upon earth whom God went to redeem for himself, to establish for you a reputation^[j] for great and awesome things, to drive out nations from before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? ²² And you made your people Israel an everlasting nation for yourself. And you, O Yahweh, became their God. ²³ So now, O Yahweh, let the word that you spoke to your servant and to his house be established forever, that you might do what you have spoken. ²⁴ And let your name be established and be magnified forever, saying, ‘Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God, and may the house of David your servant be established before you.’ ²⁵ For you, my God, have informed^[k] your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore, your servant has found courage to pray before you. ²⁶ So now, O Yahweh, you yourself are God, and you have spoken to your servant this good thing. ²⁷ And now may you begin to bless the house of your servant to continue forever^[l] before you, for you, O Yahweh, have blessed. And it will be blessed forever.”

David’s Victory over His Enemies

18 And it happened that after David struck the Philistines and subdued them, he captured Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines. ² And he struck Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bearing tribute. ³ And David struck Hadadezer, king of Zobah-Hamath, as he set up his monument at the Euphrates River. ⁴ And David captured from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left one hundred of them to remain for chariots. ⁵ And when the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah-Hamath, David struck down twenty-two thousand men of Aram. ⁶ Then David set up garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to David, bearing tribute. And Yahweh delivered David wherever he went. ⁷ And David took small round shields of gold that were upon the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David captured very much bronze. Solomon made the bronze sea with it along with the columns and objects of bronze.

⁹ And when Tou the king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer the king of Zobah, ¹⁰ he sent Hadoram his son to King David to ask him for peace and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Tou had been at war^[m] with Hadadezer. And he brought with him all the objects of gold, silver, and bronze. ¹¹ King David dedicated these also to Yahweh, along with the silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek.

¹² And Abishai son of Zeruiah defeated eighteen thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. ¹³ And he put garrisons in Edom, and all Edom became servants to David. And Yahweh delivered David wherever he went.

David’s Administration

¹⁴ So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice^[n] and righteousness to all his people. ¹⁵ And Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder. ¹⁶ And Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary. ¹⁷ And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and the Pelethites. And the sons of David were chief officials under the hand of the king.

The Righteous and Impartial Judgment of God

2 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, every one of you who passes judgment. For in that which you pass judgment on someone else, you condemn yourself, for you who are passing judgment are doing the same things. ² Now we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who do such things. ³ But do you think this, O man who passes judgment on those who do such things, and who does the same things, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you despise the wealth of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? ⁵ But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶ who will reward each one according to his works: ⁷ to those who, by perseverance in good work, seek glory and honor and immortality, eternal life, ⁸ but to those who act from selfish ambition and who disobey the truth, but who obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be affliction and distress for every human being^[a] who does evil, of the Jew first and of the Greek, ¹⁰ but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and to the Greek. ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.

¹² For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.^{[b] 14} For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, these, although they^[c] do not have the law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ who show the work of the law written on their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts one after another accusing or even defending them ¹⁶ on the day when God judges the secret things of people, according to my gospel, through^[d] Christ Jesus.

Jews also Condemned by the Law

¹⁷ But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸ and know his will and approve the things that are superior, because you^[e] are instructed by the law, ¹⁹ and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of those in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth in the law. ²¹ Therefore, the one who teaches someone else, do you not teach yourself? The one who preaches not to steal, do you steal? ²² The one who says not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? The one who abhors idols, do you rob temples? ²³ Who boast in the law, by the transgression of the law you dishonor God!^{[f] 24} For just as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”^[g]

David’s Wives and Children

15 And David built houses for himself in the city of David, and he established a place for the ark of God. And he pitched a tent for it. ² Then David ordered that none except the Levites should carry the ark of God, for Yahweh had chosen them to carry the ark of Yahweh and to serve him forever. ³ And David gathered all Israel to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of Yahweh to its place that he had established for it. ⁴ And David gathered the sons of Aaron and the Levites. ⁵ Of the sons of Kohath: Uriel the chief and one hundred and twenty of his brothers. ⁶ Of the sons of Merari: Asaiah the chief and two hundred and twenty of his brothers. ⁷ Of the sons of Gershom: Joel the chief and one hundred and thirty of his brothers. ⁸ Of the sons of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief and two hundred of his brothers. ⁹ Of the sons of Hebron: Eliel the chief and eighty of his brothers. ¹⁰ Of the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief and one hundred and twelve of his brothers. ¹¹ Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. ¹² And he said to them, “You are the heads of the families^[a] for the Levites. Sanctify yourselves and your brothers and bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, to the place I have established for it. ¹³ Because the first time you did not, and Yahweh our God burst out against us, for we did not care for it according to the law.” ¹⁴ Then the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel. ¹⁵ And the sons of the Levites carried the ark of God according to what Moses commanded, according to the word of Yahweh, on their shoulders with the carrying poles upon them.

¹⁶ Then David ordered the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of song, musical instruments, stringed instruments, and cymbals, raising their voices for joy.^{[b] 17} So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel, and from his brothers, Asaph the son of Berekiah, and from the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; ¹⁸ and with them their brothers of the second rank, Zechariah the son, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-Edom and Jeiel. ¹⁹ Now the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; ²⁰ Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play on harps according to Alamoth; ²¹ and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play lyres, directing according to the Sheminith. ²² And Kenaniah, chief of the Levites in singing, was to be an instructor in singing because he understood. ²³ And Berekiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. ²⁴ And Shebaniah, Jehoshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Elizezer the priests sounded the trumpets^[c] before the ark of God. And Obed-Edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the ark.

²⁵ And it happened that David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. ²⁶ And it happened that when God helped the Levites carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. ²⁷ Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen; so also all the Levites who were carrying the ark, the singers, and Kenaniah the chief of the singing. And David wore a linen ephod. ²⁸ And all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, with the sound of a shofar,^[d] and with trumpets and cymbals, making loud music with musical instruments and stringed instruments.

²⁹ And when the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the city of David, then Michal the daughter of Saul looked down from the window and saw the king, David, leaping and dancing. And she despised him in her heart.

The Ark of the Covenant Placed in Its Tent

16 And they brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. ² And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh. ³ And he distributed to every man of Israel, both men and women, to each person a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. ⁴ Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of Yahweh, to invoke, thank, and praise Yahweh the God of Israel. ⁵ Asaph was chief, and his second was Zechariah; Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel were on harps and lyres. And Asaph played on the cymbals. ⁶ And Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew on the trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God. ⁷ Then on that day David first appointed to give thanks to Yahweh by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.

David’s Song of Thanks

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

God’s Wrath Revealed Against Sinful Humanity

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all impiety and unrighteousness of people, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what can be known about God is evident among^[a] them, for God made it clear to them. ²⁰ For from the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created, so that they are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasoning, and their senseless hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God with the likeness of an image of mortal human beings and birds and quadrupeds and reptiles.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to immorality, that their bodies would be dishonored among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God with a lie, and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed for eternity. Amen.

God Hands Sinful Humanity over to Depravity

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to degrading passions, for their females exchanged the natural relations for those contrary to nature, ²⁷ and likewise also the males, abandoning the natural relations with the female, were inflamed in their desire toward one another, males with males committing the shameless deed, and receiving in themselves the penalty that was necessary for their error. ²⁸ And just as they did not see fit to recognize God^[b], God gave them over to a debased mind, to do the things that are not proper, ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greediness, malice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malevolence. They are gossipers, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boasters, contrivers of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹ senseless, faithless, unfeeling, unmerciful, ³² who, although they^[c] know the requirements of God, that those who do such things are worthy of death, not only do they do the same things, but also they approve of those who do them.

A Prayer for God to Throw down the Wicked