4. He then appointed certain Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
5. Asaph was their chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. These were to play on harps and lyres, while Asaph was to sound the cymbals,
6. and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to be the regular trumpeters before the ark of the covenant of God.
7. On that same day, David appointed Asaph and his brothers to sing for the first time these praises of the Lord:
8. Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name;make known among the peoples his deeds.
9. Sing praise, play music;proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
10. Glory in his holy name;rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord!
11. Rely on the mighty Lord;constantly seek his face.
12. Recall the wondrous deeds he has done,his signs, and his words of judgment,
13. You sons of Israel, his servants,offspring of Jacob, the chosen ones!
14. The Lord is our God;who rules the whole earth.
15. He remembers forever his covenantthe pact imposed for a thousand generations—
16. Which was made with Abraham,confirmed by oath to Isaac,
17. And ratified as binding for Jacob,an everlasting covenant for Israel:
18. “To you will I give the land of Canaan,your own allotted heritage.”
19. When they were few in number,a handful, and strangers there,
20. Wandering from nation to nation,from one kingdom to another,