And then David said, "The Ark of God ought not to be carried but of the Levites. For them hath the LORD chosen to bear the Ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever."

And therefore David gathered all Israel to Jerusalem, to fetch the Ark of the LORD unto the place which he had ordained for it.

And of the children of Merari: Asaiah the chief, and of his brethren two hundred and twenty.

And of the children of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief and of his brethren two hundred.

And David called to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and to the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab;

For because ye were not there at the first time, the LORD our God made a rent among us, for that we sought him not as the fashion ought to be."

And the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to fetch the Ark of the LORD God of Israel.

And the children of the Levites bare the Ark of God upon their shoulders with staves thereon as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.

And David spake to the chief heads of the Levites, that they should appoint of their brethren to sing with instruments of music: psalteries, harps and cymbals that sounded, and to sing on high with Joyfulness.

Heman, Asaph and Ethan sang with cymbals of brass to make a sound.

And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obededom, Jeiel, and Azaziah sang with harps an eight above to courage with all.

And Chenaniah the chief of the Levites was master of the song and taught to sing, for he was a man of understanding.

And David and the elders of Israel and the Captains over thousands went to fetch the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with gladness.

And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the LORD, and to repeat, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

even Asaph the chief, and next to him Zachariah then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obededom, and Jeiel with Psalteries and harps. But Asaph with sounding cymbals,

And that same time David did appoint chiefly to thank the LORD by Asaph and his brethren:

Think on his covenant ever, and on the word he commanded to a thousand generations.

Of his covenant to Abraham, and of his oath to Isaac:

which he set before Jacob for a decree, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying,

'To thee I will give the land of Canaan, to be the portion of your inheritance.'

And they went from people to people, and from one kingdom to another nation.

He suffered no man to do them wrong: But rebuked kings for their sakes.

'Touch not mine anointed, nor do my Prophets any harm.'

Sing unto the LORD all the earth: and show from day to day his victories.

For great is the LORD and to be praised exceedingly: and terrible is he above all Gods.

Ascribe to the LORD ye kindreds of people; Ascribe to the LORD Glory and strength.

Give honour unto the LORD's name: bring presents and come before him, and bow to the LORD in holy apparel.

Moreover, let the trees of the wood ring at the presence of the LORD: for he cometh to judge the earth.

And say, 'Save us o God our saviour and gather us together and deliver us from among the heathen, to thank thy holy name, and to praise thee with the praise that becometh thee.

And he left there before the ark of the LORD's covenant, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the Ark evermore day by day.

And Obededom with his brethren three score and eight, and Obededom the son of Jeduthun and Uzzah to be porters.

to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the burnt offering altar perpetually at morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the LORD which he commanded Israel.

And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and other that were chosen and named by name, to thank the LORD that his mercy lasteth ever.

And then all the people departed, every man to his house: and David returned to salute his household.

And as David dwelt in his house he said to Nathan the prophet, "Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar tree: and the Ark of the LORD's covenant dwelleth under curtains."

And Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee."

But the same night the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

"Go and tell David my servant, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in.

For I have dwelt in no house since I brought out the children of Israel unto this day: But have gone from tent to tent and from one tabernacle to another.

Neither in any place wheresoever I have walked throughout all Israel, spake I ever one word to any of the judges of Israel which I commanded to feed my people, saying, 'Why build ye me not a house of Cedar tree?'

and since the time I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and will bring under all thine enemies - for I told thee that the LORD would build thee a house.

When Nathan had told David according to all these words, and to all this vision, king David went

And yet this seemed little in thine eyes O God. But that thou shouldest speak of thy servant's house for a great while to come: and hast looked upon me as upon a man of high degree, O LORD God.

And LORD, for thy servant's sake, even according to thine own heart thou hast done all this magnificence,

to show all bounteousness LORD, there is none like thee, nor any God save thou, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Moreover, what nation on the earth is like thy people Israel, which God went and redeemed to be his own people, and to make thee a name of excellency and terribleness, with casting out nations from before thy people forever?

And now LORD the thing thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and his house be true forever, and do as thou hast said.

For thou Lord hast told thy servant, that thou wilt build him a house. And therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

Now therefore go to and bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue before thee forever. For what thou blessest, O LORD that is blessed forever."

And David beat Hadadezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to bring his dominion unto the river Euphrates.

Then came the Syrians of Damascus to help Hadadezer king of Zobah. And David slew of the Syrians twenty two thousand,

and put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: And the Syrians became David's servants and brought him tribute. For the LORD helped David in all that he went to.

And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

he sent Hadoram his son to king David, to salute him and to bless him, because he had fought with Hadadezer and beaten him - for Thou had war with Hadadezer - and sent all manner of Jewels of gold, silver and brass with him.

Then said David, "I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father dealt kindly with me." And thereupon David sent messengers to comfort him over the death of his father. And when the servants of David were come into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him,

the lords of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, "Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father in thy sight, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? Nay, but it is to search and overthrow and to spy out the land, that his servants be come unto thee."

And there went that told David how the men were served. And the king sent to meet them - for the men were exceedingly ashamed - and said, "Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return."

And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank in the nose of David, Hanun, and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire the chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia and out of Arammaacah and out of Zobah.

And they hired thirty two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, which came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities and went out to battle.

And the children of Ammon came out and put them in array to battle before the gate of the city. And the kings that were come kept them by themselves in the field.

and said, "If the Syrians be too strong for me, succor me, and if the children of Ammon be too good for thee, I will help thee.

Pluck up thine heart and let us play the men for our people's sake, and for the cities of our God, and the LORD to do what seemeth him best."

And Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh to the Syrians, to fight, and they fled before him.

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they ran away likewise, from Abishai his brother and gat them into the city. And Joab came to Jerusalem.

And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse of Israel, they sent messengers and fetched out the Syrians that are beyond the river with Shophach the Captain of the host of Hadadezer before them.

And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were put to the worse of Israel, they made peace with David and served him. Neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon anymore.

And he brought out the people that were in it and tamed them with saws and harrows of iron and with brakes, and so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And then David and all the people came again to Jerusalem.

And Satan stood up against Israel, and persuaded David to number Israel.

And David said to Joab and the rulers of the people, "Go ye and number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring it to me that I may know the number of them."

And Joab answered, "The LORD make thy people a hundred times so many more as they be. But my lord king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then doth my lord require this thing? Why should my lord be a cause of trespass to Israel?"

Neverthelater, the king's words prevailed against Joab. And Joab took his way and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem

But the Levites and Benjamin he counted not among them. For the king's deed seemed abominable to Joab.

Then said David to God, "I have sinned exceedingly in doing this thing. Nevertheless, yet do away the wickedness of thy servant, for I have done above measure foolishly."

"Go and tell David saying, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: I give thee the choice of three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do unto thee.'"

And Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus sayeth the LORD:

'Choose thee either three years' famishment, or three months to be consumed of thine adversaries, the sword of thine enemies overtaking thee: or else the sword of the LORD three days and pestilence in the land, the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel.' And now advise thyself what word I shall bring again unto him that sent me."

And David said to Gad, "I am in an exceeding strait. But let me fall in to the hands of the LORD, for passing great is his mercy, and let me not fall unto the hands of men."

And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. And as he was about to destroy, the LORD beheld and had compassion on the wretchedness, and said to the angel that destroyed, "It is enough, now cease thine hand." And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David said unto God, "Is it not I that commanded to number the people? And I am he that have sinned and done evil in deed. But what have these sheep done? Let thine hand therefore O LORD God be on me and on my father's house, and not on thy people to destroy them."

And the Angel commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go and rear up an altar unto the LORD, in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David came to Ornan. And when Ornan looked and saw David, he went out of the threshing floor and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

And David said to Ornan, "Give me the place of the threshing floor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD. Let me have it for as much money as it is worth, that the plague may cease from the people."

And Ornan said to David, "Take it to thee, and let my lord king do that seemeth good in his eyes. See, I give thee oxen for a burnt sacrifice, and the threshing sleds for wood, and wheat for meat offering: I give it all."

But king David said to Ornan, "Not so, but I will buy it for as much money as it is worth. I will not take that which is thine, for the LORD, and offer burnt offering without cost."

And so David gave to Ornan for the place sicles of gold, six hundred by weight.

And the LORD commanded the Angel to put up his sword again to the sheath of it.

At that time, when David saw that the LORD had heard him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he used to offer there.

And David could not go before it to seek God, because he was afraid of the sword of the Angel of the LORD.

And David commanded to gather the strangers that were in the land of Israel, and set hewers to hew stone, to build the house of God.

And David prepared plenty of iron for nails to the doors of the gates and to join with all, and abundance of brass without weight,

and of Cedar trees without number. For the Sidonians and they of Tyre brought much Cedar wood to David.

For David thus thought, "Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the LORD, must exceed in greatness, that it may be spoken of and praised in all lands. I will therefore make ordinance for it." And so David prepared abundance before his death.

And he called Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel.

And David said to Salomon, "My son, I had in mine heart to build a house unto the name of the LORD my God.

But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Thou hast shed much blood, and hast made many battles. Thou shalt not build a house for my name, for thou hast shed much blood to the earth in my sight.

And the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and make thee governor of Israel, and to keep the law of the LORD thy God.

For then thou shalt prosper: If thou shalt be diligent to do the ordinances and laws which the LORD charged Moses with, to deliver to Israel. Pluck up thine heart and be strong, dread not, nor be discouraged.

Moreover, thou hast workmen enough and masons and carpenters to work in stone and timber, and all manner of wise men for whatsoever work it be.

And David commanded all the lords of Israel, to help Solomon his son, saying,

Now therefore set your hearts and your souls to seek the LORD your God. And up, and build ye the temple of the LORD God, to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God into the house so built for the name of the LORD."