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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

You will sing as you do on the night you celebrate a holy feast. Your hearts will be filled with joy. You will be as joyful as people playing their flutes as they go up to the mountain of the Lord. He is the Rock of Israel.

Trust in him at all times, you people. Tell him all your troubles. God is our place of safety.

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

“ That’s not true, sir,” Hannah replied.“ I’m a woman who is deeply troubled. I haven’t been drinking wine or beer. I was telling the Lord all my troubles.Don’t think of me as an evil woman. I’ve been praying here because I’m very sad. My pain is so great.”

The ark of God was carried into Jerusalem. It was put in the tent David had set up for it. The priests brought burnt offerings and friendship offerings to God.After David finished sacrificing those offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.He gave to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread. He also gave each one a date cake and a raisin cake.He appointed some of the Levites to serve in front of the ark of the Lord. David wanted them to give honor, thanks and praise to the Lord. He is the God of Israel.Asaph was the leader of those Levites. Zechariah was next in rank. Then came Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed- Edom and Jeiel. They played the lyres and harps. Asaph played the cymbals.Benaiah and Jahaziel, the priests, blew the trumpets. They blew them at regular times in front of the ark of the covenant of God.That day was the first time David appointed Asaph and his helpers. He appointed them to give praise to the Lord with these words.Give praise to the Lord. Make his name known. Tell the nations what he has done.Sing to him. Sing praise to him. Tell about all the wonderful things he has done.Honor him, because his name is holy. Let the hearts of those who trust in the Lord be glad.Look to the Lord and to his strength. Always look to him.Remember the wonderful things he has done. Remember his miracles and how he judged our enemies.Remember, you his servants, the children of Israel. Remember, you people of Jacob. Remember, you who are chosen by God.He is the Lord our God. He judges the whole earth.He will keep his covenant forever. He will keep his promise for all time to come.He will keep the covenant he made with Abraham. He will keep the promise he made to Isaac.He made it stand as a law for Jacob. He made it stand as a covenant for Israel. It will last forever.He said,“ I will give you the land of Canaan. It will belong to you.”At first there weren’t very many of God’s people. There were only a few. And they were strangers in the land.They wandered from nation to nation. They wandered from one kingdom to another.But God didn’t allow anyone to treat them badly. To keep them safe, he gave a command to kings.He said to them,“ Do not touch my anointed ones. Do not harm my prophets.”All you people of the earth, sing to the Lord. Day after day tell about how he saves us.Tell the nations about his glory. Tell all people about the wonderful things he has done.The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise. People should have respect for him as the greatest God of all.All the gods of the nations are like their statues. They can’t do anything. But the Lord made the heavens.Glory and majesty are all around him. Strength and joy are in the place where he lives.Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise the Lord for his glory and strength.Praise the Lord for the glory that belongs to him. Bring an offering and come to him. Worship the Lord because of his beauty and holiness.All you people of the earth, tremble when you are with him. The world is firmly set in place. It can’t be moved.Let the heavens be filled with joy. Let the earth be glad. Let them say among the nations,“ The Lord rules!”Let the ocean and everything in it roar. Let the fields and everything in them be glad.Let the trees in the forest sing with joy. They will sing before the Lord. He will judge the people of the world.Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good. His faithful love continues forever.Cry out,“ Save us, God our Savior. Save us. Bring us back from among the nations. Then we will give thanks to you, because your name is holy. We will celebrate by praising you.”Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel, for ever and ever. Then all the people said,“ Amen!” They also said,“ Praise the Lord.”David left Asaph and his helpers to serve in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. They served there at regular times. They did it as they were required to do each day.David also left Obed- Edom and his 68 helpers to serve with them. Obed- Edom and Hosah guarded the gates. Obed- Edom was the son of Jeduthun.David left Zadok the priest and some other priests in front of the holy tent of the Lord. It was at the high place in Gibeon.David left them there to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar every morning and evening. They did it according to everything written in the Law of the Lord. That’s the Law he had given to Israel.Heman and Jeduthun were with the priests. So were the rest of those who had been chosen by name and appointed to serve. They had been chosen to give thanks to the Lord,“ because his faithful love continues forever.”It was the duty of Heman and Jeduthun to blow the trumpets. They also had the duty of playing the cymbals and other instruments for the sacred songs. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at one of the gates.All the people left. Everyone went home. And David returned home to bless his family.

Be filled with joy at your feast. You, your children, and your male and female servants should be joyful. So should the Levites, the outsiders, and the widows living in your towns. And so should the children whose fathers have died.For seven days celebrate the feast to honor the Lord your God. Do it at the place he will choose. The Lord will bless you when you gather all your crops. He’ll bless you in everything you do. And you will be full of joy.

Then Solomon sent the people home. It was the 23rd day of the seventh month. The people were glad. Their hearts were full of joy. That’s because the Lord had done good things for David and Solomon and his people Israel.

“ How I long for the times when things were better! That’s when God watched over me.The light of his lamp shone on me. I walked through darkness by his light.Those were the best days of my life. That’s when God’s friendship blessed my house.The Mighty One was still with me. My children were all around me.The path in front of me was like sweet cream. It was as if the rock poured out olive oil for me.“ In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.“ I thought,‘ I’ll die in my own house. The days of my life will be as many as the grains of sand.My roots will reach down to the water. The dew will lie all night on my branches.I will remain healthy and strong. My bow will stay as good as new in my hand.’“ People wanted to hear what I had to say. They waited silently for the advice I gave them.After I had spoken, they didn’t speak anymore. My words fell gently on their ears.They waited for me just as they would wait for rain showers. They drank my words just as they would drink the spring rain.When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it. The light of my face lifted their spirits.I chose the way they should go. I sat as their chief. I lived as a king lives among his troops. I was like someone who comforts those who are sad.“ But now those who are younger than I am make fun of me. I wouldn’t even put their parents with my sheep dogs!Their strong hands couldn’t give me any help. That’s because their strength was gone.They were weak because they were needy and hungry. They wandered through dry and empty deserts at night.Among the bushes they gathered salty plants. They ate the roots of desert bushes.They were driven away from human society. They were shouted at as if they were robbers.They were forced to live in dry stream beds. They had to stay among rocks and in holes in the ground.Like donkeys they cried out among the bushes. There they crowded together and hid.They were so foolish that no one respected them. They were driven out of the land.“ Now their children laugh at me. They make fun of me with their songs.They hate me. They stay away from me. They even dare to spit in my face.God has made my body weak. It’s like a tent that has fallen down. So those children do what they want to in front of me.Many people attack me on my right side. They lay traps for my feet. They come at me from every direction.They tear up the road I walk on. They succeed in destroying me. They say,‘ No one can help him.’They attack me like troops smashing through a wall. Among the destroyed buildings they come rolling in.Terrors sweep over me. My honor is driven away as if by the wind. My safety vanishes like a cloud.“ Now my life is slipping away. Days of suffering grab hold of me.At night my bones hurt. My aches and pains never stop.God’s great power becomes like clothes to me. He chokes me like the neck of my shirt.He throws me down into the mud. I’m nothing but dust and ashes.“ God, I cry out to you. But you don’t answer me. I stand up. But all you do is look at me.You do mean things to me. You attack me with your mighty power.You pick me up and blow me away with the wind. You toss me around in the storm.I know that you will bring me down to death. That’s what you have appointed for everyone.“ No one would crush people when they cry out for help in their trouble.Haven’t I wept for those who are in trouble? Haven’t I felt sorry for poor people?I hoped good things would happen, but something evil came. I looked for light, but all I saw was darkness.My insides are always churning. Nothing but days of suffering are ahead of me.My skin has become dark, but the sun didn’t do it. I stand up in the community and cry out for help.I’ve become a brother to wild dogs. Owls are my companions.My skin grows black and peels. My body burns with fever.My lyre is tuned to sadness. My flute makes a sound like weeping.

Look at the mountains of Judah! I see a messenger running to bring good news! He’s telling us that peace has come! People of Judah, celebrate your feasts. Carry out your promises. The evil Assyrians won’t attack you again. They’ll be completely destroyed.

Look at how the gold has lost its brightness! See how dull the fine gold has become! The sacred jewels are scattered at every street corner.

I was full when I went away. But the Lord has brought me back empty. So why are you calling me Naomi? The Lord has made me suffer. The Mighty One has brought trouble on me.”

Sing joyfully to God! He gives us strength. Give a loud shout to the God of Jacob!Let the music begin. Play the tambourines. Play sweet music on harps and lyres.Blow the ram’s horn on the day of the New Moon feast. Blow it again when the moon is full and the Feast of Booths begins.

Be filled with joy in the sight of the Lord your God. Be joyful at the special place he will choose for his Name. You, your children, and your male and female servants should be joyful. So should the Levites living in your towns. So should the outsiders and widows living among you. And so should the children whose fathers have died.

This time the Levites used the poles to carry on their shoulders the ark of God. That’s what Moses had commanded in keeping with the word of the Lord.David told the Levite leaders to appoint other Levites as musicians. He wanted them to make a joyful sound with lyres, harps and cymbals.So the Levites appointed Heman, the son of Joel. From his relatives they chose Asaph, the son of Berekiah. Other relatives were from the family of Merari. From them they chose Ethan, the son of Kushaiah.Along with them they chose their relatives who were next in rank. Their names were Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed- Edom and Jeiel. They guarded the gates.Heman, Asaph and Ethan played the bronze cymbals.Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah played the lyres according to alamoth.Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed- Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah played the harps according to sheminith.Kenaniah was the leader of the Levites. He was in charge of the singing because he was good at it.Berekiah and Elkanah guarded the ark.Some of the priests blew trumpets in front of the ark of God. Their names were Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer. Obed- Edom and Jehiah also helped guard the ark.David and the elders of Israel went to carry up the ark of the covenant of the Lord. So did the commanders of military groups of 1,000 men. With great joy they carried up the ark from the house of Obed- Edom.God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. So seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed.David was wearing a robe made out of fine linen. So were all the Levites who were carrying the ark. And so were the musicians and the choir director Kenaniah. David was also wearing a sacred linen apron.So the whole community of Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord. They shouted. They blew rams’ horns and trumpets. They played cymbals, lyres and harps.

Get up. Cry out as the night begins. Tell the Lord all your troubles. Lift up your hands to him. Pray that the lives of your children will be spared. At every street corner they faint because they are so hungry.

Give thanks as you enter the gates of his temple. Give praise as you enter its courtyards. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

We used to enjoy good friendship at the house of God. We used to walk together among those who came to worship.

“ But Abraham replied,‘ Son, remember what happened in your lifetime. You received your good things. Lazarus received bad things. Now he is comforted here, and you are in terrible pain.

Then the whole community agreed to celebrate the feast for seven more days. So for another seven days they celebrated with joy.Hezekiah, the king of Judah, provided 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for the community. The officials provided 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats for them. A large number of priests set themselves apart to the Lord.The entire community of Judah was filled with joy. So were the priests and Levites. And so were all the people who had gathered together from Israel. That included the outsiders who had come from Israel. It also included those who lived in Judah.There was great joy in Jerusalem. There hadn’t been anything like it in Israel since the days of Solomon, the son of David. Solomon had been king of Israel.