1 N ow these are the last words of David: David son of Jesse says, and the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, says,

2 T he Spirit of the Lord spoke in and by me, and His word was upon my tongue.

3 T he God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me, When one rules over men righteously, ruling in the fear of God,

4 H e dawns on them like the morning light when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, when the tender grass springs out of the earth through clear shining after rain.

5 T ruly does not my house stand so with God? For He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure. For will He not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?

6 B ut wicked, godless, and worthless lives are all like thorns to be thrust away, because they cannot be taken with the hand.

7 B ut the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire on the spot.

8 T hese are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the Three, known also as Adino the Eznite; he wielded his spear and went against 800 men, who were slain at one time.

9 N ext to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines assembled there for battle, and the men of Israel had departed.

10 a rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. The Lord wrought a great deliverance and victory that day; the men returned after him only to take the spoil.

11 N ext to was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered at Lehi on a piece of ground full of lentils; and the fled from the Philistines.

12 B ut he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it and slew the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great victory.

13 A nd three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time to David in the cave of Adullam, and a troop of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 A nd David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15 A nd David said longingly, Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate!

16 A nd the three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem by the gate and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.

17 A nd he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, to drink this. Is it not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives? So he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

18 N ow Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against 300 men and slew them, and won a name beside the Three.

19 W as he not most renowned of the Three? So he was their captain; however, he did not attain to the Three.

20 A nd Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many notable acts, slew two lionlike men of Moab. He went down also and slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day.

21 A nd he slew an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew the man with his own spear.

22 T hese things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and won a name beside the three mighty men.

23 H e was more renowned than the Thirty, but he attained not to the Three. David set him over his guard or council.

24 A sahel brother of Joab was one of the Thirty; then Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 S hammah of Harod, Elika of Harod,

26 H elez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa,

27 A biezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28 Z almon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah,

29 H eleb son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites.

30 B enaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

31 A bi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32 E liahba of Shaalbon, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

33 S hammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

34 E liphelet son of Ahasbai, son of Maacah, Eliam son of Ahithophel of Giloh,

35 H ezro (Hezrai) of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite,

36 I gal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Z elek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

38 I ra the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

39 U riah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.