1 T hen came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 E ven aforetime, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel; and Jehovah said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.

In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord told you, You shall feed My people Israel and be prince over.

3 A nd all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah; and they anointed David king over Israel.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the Lord, and they anointed king over Israel.

4 D avid was thirty years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years.

David was thirty years old when he began his forty-year reign.

5 I n Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 A nd the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; and they spoke to David, saying, Thou shalt not come in hither, but the blind and the lame will drive thee back; as much as to say, David will not come in hither.

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, You shall not enter here, for the blind and the lame will prevent you; they thought, David cannot come in here.

7 B ut David took the stronghold of Zion, which is the city of David.

Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the City of David.

8 A nd David said on that day, Whoever smites the Jebusites and gets up to the watercourse, and the lame and the blind hated of David's soul …! Therefore they say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

David said on that day, Whoever smites the Jebusites, let him get up through the water shaft and smite the lame and the blind who are detested by David’s soul. So they say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

9 S o David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from the Millo and inward.

So David dwelt in the stronghold and called it the City of David. And he built round about from the Millo and inward.

10 A nd David became continually greater; and Jehovah the God of hosts was with him.

David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of hosts was with him.

11 A nd Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.

Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.

12 A nd David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom because of his people Israel.

And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel’s sake.

13 A nd David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

And David took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and other sons and daughters were born to.

14 A nd these are the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 a nd Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 a nd Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17 A nd the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard, and went down to the stronghold.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went up to find, but heard of it and went down to the stronghold.

18 A nd the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.

19 A nd David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou give them into my hand? And Jehovah said to David, Go up; for I will certainly give the Philistines into thy hand.

David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to David, Go up, for I will surely deliver into your hand.

20 A nd David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, Jehovah has broken in upon mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

And David came to Baal-perazim, and he smote them there, and said, The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the bursting out of great waters. So he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

21 A nd they left their images there, and David and his men took them away.

There the Philistines left their images, and David and his men took them away.

22 A nd the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

The Philistines came up again and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.

23 A nd David inquired of Jehovah; and he said, Thou shalt not go up; turn round behind them and come upon them opposite the mulberry-trees.

When David inquired of the Lord, He said, You shall not go up, but go around behind them and come upon them over opposite the mulberry (or balsam) trees.

24 A nd it shall be, when thou hearest a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then will Jehovah have gone forth before thee, to smite the army of the Philistines.

And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then bestir yourselves, for then has the Lord gone out before you to smite the army of the Philistines.

25 A nd David did so, as Jehovah had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou comest to Gezer.

And David did as the Lord had commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.