1 N ow these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:

Now 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 “ The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.

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

3 T he God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.

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

4 A nd he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.’

He 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 “ Although my house is not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase?

Truly 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 the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands.

But 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 Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.” David’s Mighty Men

But 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 the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.

These 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 A nd after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated.

Next 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 H e arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

arose 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 A nd after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines.

Next 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 stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

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

13 T hen three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

And 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 D avid was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15 A nd David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”

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

16 S o the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.

And 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, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

And 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, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three.

Now 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 the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.

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

20 B enaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

And 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 killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

And 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 the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men.

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

23 H e was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

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

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

Asahel brother of Joab was one of the Thirty; then Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 S hammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod,

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

Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa,

27 A biezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28 Z almon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah,

29 H eleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

Heleb son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites.

30 B enaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,

Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

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

Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32 E liahba the Shaalbonite (of the sons of Jashen), Jonathan,

Eliahba of Shaalbon, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

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

Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

34 E liphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

Eliphelet son of Ahasbai, son of Maacah, Eliam son of Ahithophel of Giloh,

35 H ezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

Hezro (Hezrai) of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite,

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

Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Z elek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

38 I ra the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

39 a nd Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.