1 Chronicles 16:8-36

8Thank the Lord! Make his name famous! Tell people in all the nations what he has done.

9Sing songs and make music to praise him! Tell people about the miracles that he has done.

10Boast about his holy name. Everybody who wants to worship the Lord should be very happy!

11Ask the Lord to help you! Ask him to give you strength. Always try to be near him and worship him.

12Remember the great things that he has done. Remember his miracles, and the commands that he has spoken.

13You are the descendants of God's servant, Israel. You are Jacob's descendants, and God has chosen you to be his people.

14He is the Lord our God. He rules the whole earth with justice.

15Always remember the covenant that he has made with us. He made that promise to continue for ever.

16That is the promise that he made to Abraham, and that he also made to Isaac.

17He repeated it to Jacob as a law. It was a covenant with Israel's people that would continue for ever.

18He promised, ‘I will give the land of Canaan to you. It will belong to you and to your descendants.’

19At one time, God's people were only a few. They lived in Canaan as strangers.

20They travelled among different nations and different kingdoms.

21But the Lord did not let anyone hurt them. He punished kings, to keep his people safe.

22He said, ‘Do not even touch the people that I have chosen to be mine. Do not hurt my prophets.’

23Sing to the Lord, all the world. Every day, tell people the message that he has rescued us.

24Tell the other nations that he is very great. Tell all of them about the great things that he has done.

25Yes, the Lord is great! Everyone should praise him, as he deserves. People should respect him with fear, more than all other gods.

26All the other nations' gods are useless idols. But the Lord made the heavens.

27We see that he is a very great king. Strength and joy are in his home.

28You people of other nations, recognize that the Lord is great and powerful.

29Agree that the Lord's name is great. Bring a gift to offer to him in his temple. Worship the Lord, who is beautiful and holy.

30Everyone on earth must shake with fear in front of him. He has fixed the world in its place, so that nothing can shake it.

31The earth and the sky should be happy! The people of all nations should say, ‘The Lord rules as king!’

32The sea and everything in it should shout aloud! The fields and all their crops should shout with joy!

33Then all the trees in the forests will also sing, because they are so happy. They will be happy because the Lord is coming to judge the earth.

34Thank the Lord, because he is good. His faithful love will always be with us.

35Say to him, ‘God, you are the one who rescues us! Please save us now! Bring us safely home from among the other nations. Then we will thank you! We will shout aloud to praise your holy name.’

36Praise the Lord, Israel's God, as he deserves! Praise him now and for ever! Then all the people said, ‘Amen! We agree! Praise the Lord!’