Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand, to bring up from Baale-judah the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits above the cherubim. He went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there God's ark, which is called by the Name, even the name of the Lord of Armies who sits between the cherubim.

They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of Abinadab's house in Gibeah, with Uzzah and Ahio, his sons, driving the cart. As they accompanied the ark of God from the house of Abinadab at Gibeah, Ahio went before the ark.

David and all the house of Israel celebrated before the Lord with harps, psalteries, timbrels, cornets, and cymbals made of fir wood. But when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, disaster struck: Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God because the oxen were stumbling.

The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; he died by the side of the ark of God. David was displeased because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah, and he called that place Perezuzzah to this day. From then on, David feared the Lord deeply.

David was afraid to bring the ark into his city, so instead he took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in Obed-edom's house for three months, and the Lord blessed him and all his household because of God's presence with them.

When King David heard that the Lord had blessed Obed-edom's household, he went to bring up the ark from Obed-edom's house into the city of David. He did so with great joy and sacrifice: when those who bore the Lord's ark had gone six paces, he offered an ox and a fattened calf as a burnt offering.

David danced before the Lord with all his might; he was clothed in a linen ephod, celebrating the presence of God with all Israel. They brought up the Lord's ark into the city of David with shouts and the sound of the trumpet.

As the ark of the Lord entered the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked out from her window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord in joy. But she despised him in her heart for his uninhibited worship.

They brought the ark of the Lord into its place in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord, giving thanks for God's presence with them.

When David finished offering sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, praising God for his goodness. Then he shared food and drink with all the people, distributing a cake of bread, a piece of meat, and a flask of wine to each person; so everyone went home satisfied.

Finally, David returned to bless his household, but Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet him. She mocked him for exposing himself shamelessly in front of her servants, calling it a foolish display.

David responded, "It was before the Lord who chose me above your father and all his household to be ruler over Israel. I will celebrate before the Lord, and I'll do so even more openly than this, making myself humble and worthless in my own sight."

Michal's words were not forgotten: she remained childless until her dying day.