1 David fez para si vários palácios em Jerusalém. Construiu também um novo tabernáculo para que nele estivesse a arca de Deus. Para tal deu as seguintes instruções: Ninguém mais, além dos levitas, poderá transportá-la; é a eles que compete esse serviço para sempre.

3 Então David convocou todo o povo de Israel para Jerusalém, a fim de celebrarem o transporte da arca para o novo tabernáculo. Foram estes os sacerdotes e os levitas que estiveram presente:do clã do Coate estiveram 120; Uriel era o seu chefe o clã de Merari, 220; Asaias era o chefe o clã de Gerson, 130; Joel era o chefe o sub-clã de Elizafá, 200; Semaías era o chefe o sub-clã de Hebrom, 80; Eliel era o chefe o sub-clã de Uziel, 112; Aminadabe era o chefe.

11 David mandou chamar Zadoque e Abiatar, os sumo sacerdotes, assim como os chefes dos levitas: Uriel, Asaías, Joel, Semaías, Eliel e Aminadabe.

12 Vocês são os chefes dos clãs dos levitas, disse-lhes. Portanto santifiquem-se, a si próprios e aos vossos irmãos, de forma que possam trazer a arca de Jeová, o Deus de Israel, ao lugar que lhe preparei. O Senhor destruiu-nos, da outra vez, porque não respeitámos os preceitos divinos: era a vocês que competia levarem a arca.

14 Então os sacerdotes e os levitas executaram as cerimónias rituais de santificação, como preparação para o transporte da arca de Jeová, o Deus de Israel. Os levitas, depois, carregaram-na eles próprios, aos ombros, sobre as varas apropriadas, tal como o Senhor ordenara a Moisés.

16 David também tinha mandado aos levitas que organizassem os coros de cantores, e eles assim fizeram, acompanhando-se com a música forte e alegre dos instrumentos, tais como alaúdes, harpas e címbalos. Hemã (filho de Joel), Asafe (filho de Berequias) e Etã (filho de Cuasaías), do clã de Merari, eram os responsáveis pela parte musical.

18 Os seguintes homens foram escolhidos como seus assistentes: Zacarias, Aziel, Semiramote, Jeiel, Uni, Eliabe, Benaia, Maaséia, Matitias, Elifeleu, Micnéias, Obede-Edom e Jeiel; estes eram também porteiros.

19 Hemã, Asafe e Etã foram escolhidos para tocarem os címbalos de cobre; e Zacarias, Aziel, Semiramote, Jeiel, Uni, Eliabe, Maaséia e Benaia formavam um octeto acompanhado de harpas. Matitias, Elifeleu, Micnéias, Obede-Edom, Jeiel e Azarias eram harpistas. O chefe dos cantores era Quenanias, líder dos levitas, o qual foi seleccionado pelas suas qualidades. Berequias e Elcana eram guardas da arca. Sebanias, Josafate, Netanel, Amasai, Zacarias, Benaia e Eliezer - todos eles sacerdotes - formavam um conjunto de trombetas que ia à frente do cortejo. Obede Edom e Jeías guardavam a arca.

25 David mais os anciãos de Israel, acompanhados dos generais do exército, foram com grande alegria até à casa de Obede-Edom, para trazerem a arca para Jerusalém. E porque Deus não destruiu os levitas que transportavam a arca, sacrificaram sete novilhos e sete carneiros. David mais os levitas que transportavam a arca, os cantores e Quenanias, o chefe dos cantores, estavam vestidos de roupa de linho; David trazia também um éfode de linho.

28 Foi dessa maneira que os líderes de Israel transportaram a arca, com brados de alegria, som de buzinas e trombetas, mais os címbalos e o acompanhamento das harpas e alaúdes.

29 Quando a arca chegou a Jerusalém, Mical, a mulher de David, filha do rei Saul, sentiu desprezo por David, ao vê-lo, da janela onde se encontrava, a dançar e a tocar.

1 And he made him houses, in the city of David,and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.

2 Then, said David, None must carry the ark of God, save the Levites,for, of them, did Yahweh make choice, to bear the ark of Yahweh, and to attend it, unto times age-abiding.

3 So David convoked all Israel, unto Jerusalem,to bring up the ark of Yahweh, unto the place thereof, 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 his brethren, one hundred and twenty;

6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brethren, two hundred and twenty;

7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brethren, one hundred and thirty;

8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren, two hundred;

9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brethren, eighty;

10 of the son of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brethren, a hundred and twelve.

11 Then called David, for Zadok and for Abiathar, the priests,and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah and Joel, Shemaiah and Eliel, and Amminadab;

12 and said unto them, Ye, are the chiefs of the fathers of the Levites,Hallow yourselves, ye and your brethren, so shall ye bring up the ark of YahwehGod of Israel, into I have prepared for it.

13 Because, at the first, ye, did not , Yahweh our God brake forth against us, because we sought him not in the appointed way.

14 So the priests and the Levites hallowed themselves,to bring up the ark of Yahweh, God of Israel.

15 And the sons of the Levites bare the ark of God, just as Moses commanded, according to the word of Yahweh,on their shoulder, with the staves upon them.

16 And David spake to the chiefs of the Levites, to station their brethren the singers, with instruments of song, harps and lyres, and cymbals,sounding aloud at the lifting up of the voice, for joy.

17 So the Levites caused to stand, Heman son of Joel, and, of his brethren, Asaph, son of Berechiah,and, of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan, son of Kushaiah;

18 and, with them, their brethren of the second degree,Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mickneiah, and Obed-edom and Jeiel, the door-keepers.

19 And, the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan, with cymbals of bronze, were to sound aloud;

20 and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah and Benaiah,with harps, over the trebles;

21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel and Azaziah,with lyres over the bass, to take the lead.

22 And, Chenaniah the leader of the Levites, in the service, used to give instructions in the service, because skilful was he.

23 And, Berechiah and Elkanah, were door-keepers to the ark.

24 And, Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were blowing with the trumpets, before the ark of God,and, Obed-edom and Jehiah, were door-keepers, to the ark.

25 Thus, it was, David and the elders of Israel, and the rulers of thousands, who were going, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, out of the house of Obed-edom, with joy.

26 And so it was that, when God helped the Levites, who were bearing the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams.

27 Now, David, was wrapped about with a robe of byssus, with all the Levites who were bearing the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the service rendered by the singers,but, upon David, was an ephod of white linen.

28 So, all Israel, were bringing up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, with shouting, and with sound of the horn, and with trumpets, and with cymbals,sounding aloud, with harps, and lyres.

29 And so it was that, when the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came in as far as the city of David,and Michal daughter of Saul looked forth through the window, and saw King David, dancing and playing, that she despised him in her heart.