My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

我从前与众人同往，用欢呼称赞的声音领他们到神的殿里，大家守节。我追想这些事，我的心极其悲伤。

我从前与众人同往，领他们到上帝的殿里，大家用欢呼称颂的声音守节；我追想这些事，我的心极其悲伤。

我从前与众人同往，领他们到神的殿里，大家用欢呼称颂的声音守节；我追想这些事，我的心极其悲伤。

从前我带领众人浩浩荡荡去上帝的殿，在欢呼、感恩声中一起过节。我回想这些事，心中无限忧伤。

我从前常常和群众同去，与他们进到神的殿里，在欢呼和称谢声中，大家守节。每逢想起这些事，我的心就感到难过。

从前我与众人同行，在欢呼和感谢的声音中带领他们到神的殿，与守节的群众在一起。我记起这些事，我的灵魂就极其悲伤。

我從前與眾人同往，用歡呼稱讚的聲音領他們到神的殿裏，大家守節。我追想這些事，我的心極其悲傷。

我從前與眾人同往，領他們到上帝的殿裏，大家用歡呼稱頌的聲音守節；我追想這些事，我的心極其悲傷。

我從前與眾人同往，領他們到神的殿裏，大家用歡呼稱頌的聲音守節；我追想這些事，我的心極其悲傷。

從前我帶領眾人浩浩蕩蕩去上帝的殿，在歡呼、感恩聲中一起過節。我回想這些事，心中無限憂傷。

我從前常常和群眾同去，與他們進到神的殿裡，在歡呼和稱謝聲中，大家守節。每逢想起這些事，我的心就感到難過。

我往往在貴顯羣中，一團熙熙攘攘的參拜者，用歡呼稱讚的聲音，行進到上帝殿裏：這些事我每逢追想，便傾瀉傷感來。

從前我與眾人同行，在歡呼和感謝的聲音中帶領他們到神的殿，與守節的群眾在一起。我記起這些事，我的靈魂就極其悲傷。

我昔與眾偕行、以歡頌之聲、引詣上帝室、而守節期、今追憶之、我心傷悲兮、

惟我在昔、與眾和會、忻喜鼓舞、徐行詣殿、以守節禮兮、今也不然、困苦難堪兮。

我在昔日與眾聚會、發聲歡呼、謳歌頌揚、偕眾同赴天主聖殿、謹守節禮、追憶此事、心極憂傷、

人問爾主安在兮。朝暮涕淚漣漣。以涕淚為飲食兮。吾主盍亦垂憐。

These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

When I remember what has happened, I tell God all my troubles. I remember how I used to walk to the house of God. The Mighty One guarded my steps. We shouted with joy and praised God as we went along with the joyful crowd.

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful and thankful shouts.

I remember these things and pour out my soul within me. For I used to go over with the multitude and walk them to the house of God, With a voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude celebrating a festival.

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, How I went with the throng, and led them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping holyday.

I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful and thankful shouts.

When I remember these[ things], I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

I will remember and weep! For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival.

These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to God’s house, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.

But the people of God will sing a song of joy, like the songs at the holy festivals. You will be filled with joy, as when a flutist leads a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem, the mountain of the Lord— to the Rock of Israel.

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude

I was glad when they said to me,“ Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

“ Oh no, sir!” she replied.“ I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord.Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”

They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord.Then he gave to every man and woman in all Israel a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins.David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord— to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. Second to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres.The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, played the trumpets regularly before the Ark of God’s Covenant.On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the Lord:Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,you children of his servant Israel, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.Remember his covenant forever— the commitment he made to a thousand generations.This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never ending covenant:“ I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.”He said this when you were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:“ Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.”Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling.O nations of the world, recognize the Lord, recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.Let all the earth tremble before him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations,“ The Lord reigns!”Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth.Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.Cry out,“ Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.”Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted“ Amen!” and praised the Lord.David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day.This group included Obed edom( son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty eight other Levites as gatekeepers.Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the Lord at the place of worship in Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the Lord.They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the Lord each morning and evening on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying everything written in the Law of the Lord, as he had commanded Israel.David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, for“ his faithful love endures forever.”They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany their songs of praise to God. And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers.Then all the people returned to their homes, and David turned and went home to bless his own family.

This festival will be a happy time of celebrating with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows from your towns.For seven days you must celebrate this festival to honor the Lord your God at the place he chooses, for it is he who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work. This festival will be a time of great joy for all.

Then at the end of the celebration, Solomon sent the people home. They were all joyful and glad because the Lord had been so good to David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.

“ I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home.The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me.My steps were awash in cream, and the rocks gushed olive oil for me.“ Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders.The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.“ All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth.“ I thought,‘ Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’“ Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak.And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them.They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned.“ But now I am mocked by people younger than I, by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs.A lot of good they are to me— those worn out wretches!They are gaunt from poverty and hunger. They claw the dry ground in desolate wastelands.They pluck wild greens from among the bushes and eat from the roots of broom trees.They are driven from human society, and people shout at them as if they were thieves.So now they live in frightening ravines, in caves and among the rocks.They sound like animals howling among the bushes, huddled together beneath the nettles.They are nameless fools, outcasts from society.“ And now they mock me with vulgar songs! They taunt me!They despise me and won’t come near me, except to spit in my face.For God has cut my bowstring. He has humbled me, so they have thrown off all restraint.These outcasts oppose me to my face. They send me sprawling and lay traps in my path.They block my road and do everything they can to destroy me. They know I have no one to help me.They come at me from all directions. They jump on me when I am down.I live in terror now. My honor has blown away in the wind, and my prosperity has vanished like a cloud.“ And now my life seeps away. Depression haunts my days.At night my bones are filled with pain, which gnaws at me relentlessly.With a strong hand, God grabs my shirt. He grips me by the collar of my coat.He has thrown me into the mud. I’m nothing more than dust and ashes.“ I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer. I stand before you, but you don’t even look.You have become cruel toward me. You use your power to persecute me.You throw me into the whirlwind and destroy me in the storm.And I know you are sending me to my death— the destination of all who live.“ Surely no one would turn against the needy when they cry for help in their trouble.Did I not weep for those in trouble? Was I not deeply grieved for the needy?So I looked for good, but evil came instead. I waited for the light, but darkness fell.My heart is troubled and restless. Days of suffering torment me.I walk in gloom, without sunlight. I stand in the public square and cry for help.Instead, I am considered a brother to jackals and a companion to owls.My skin has turned dark, and my bones burn with fever.My harp plays sad music, and my flute accompanies those who weep.

Look! A messenger is coming over the mountains with good news! He is bringing a message of peace. Celebrate your festivals, O people of Judah, and fulfill all your vows, for your wicked enemies will never invade your land again. They will be completely destroyed!

How the gold has lost its luster! Even the finest gold has become dull. The sacred gemstones lie scattered in the streets!

I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob.Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp.Blow the ram’s horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival!

This is a time to celebrate before the Lord your God at the designated place of worship he will choose for his name to be honored. Celebrate with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you.

Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers— Obed edom and Jeiel.The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound the bronze cymbals.Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps.Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were chosen to play the lyres.Kenaniah, the head Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because of his skill.Berekiah and Elkanah were chosen to guard the Ark.Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer— all of whom were priests— were chosen to blow the trumpets as they marched in front of the Ark of God. Obed edom and Jehiah were chosen to guard the Ark.Then David and the elders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the house of Obed edom to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration.And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment.So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.

Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children, for in every street they are faint with hunger.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.

“ But Abraham said to him,‘ Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.

The entire assembly then decided to continue the festival another seven days, so they celebrated joyfully for another week.King Hezekiah gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for offerings, and the officials donated 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. Meanwhile, many more priests purified themselves.The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah.There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son.