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 the son of Jesse, the man who was raised on high, the chosen one of the God of Jacob, the sweet song writer 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 by me. His Word was on 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 has spoken. The Rock of Israel said to me, ‘When one is right and good in ruling over men, 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 shines on them like the morning light. He is like the sunshine on a morning without clouds. He is like rain that makes the new grass grow out of the earth through sunshine 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?

In truth, does not my house stand right with God? For He has made an agreement with me that lasts forever. It is planned right in all things, and sure. For will He not make all my help and my desire grow?

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

But those of no worth are all like thorns that are thrown 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

The man who touches them must be covered with iron and have a spear. All of them will be burned up with fire as they sit.” David’s Men of War

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 David’s men of war. There was Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, head of the three. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed 800 men 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 strong men was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was with David when they spoke against the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had left.

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.

Eleazar got up and killed the Philistines until his hand was tired from holding the sword. The Lord saved many of His people that day. The men returned after him only to take what had belonged to the dead.

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 him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together at Lehi, where there was a piece of ground full of lentil plants. The people ran 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 Shammah stood in the center of the piece of ground and fought for it. He killed the Philistines. The Lord saved many of His people that day.

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.

Then three of the thirty leaders went down to David during the gathering time to the cave of Adullam. The Philistine army was staying in the valley of Rephaim.

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

David was in the strong place, while the Philistine soldiers were 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!”

David had a desire and said, “If only someone would give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!”

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.

So the three strong men broke through the Philistine army and took water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He 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 said, “O Lord, far be it from me to do this. Should I drink the blood of the men who went and put their lives in danger?” So he would not drink it. The three strong men did these things.

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 head of the thirty. He fought with his spear against 300 men and killed them. His name was respected as well as 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.

He was the most honored of the thirty. So he became their captain. But he was not as strong as 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.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a man of Kabzeel with strength of heart. He had done powerful things. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. And he went down and killed a lion in a hole while the snow was falling.

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.

He killed an Egyptian, an important man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. But Benaiah went down to him with a heavy stick and took the spear from the Egyptian’s hand. Then he killed him with his own spear.

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

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things. His name was respected as well as the three strong 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 honored among the thirty. But he was not as strong as the three. David made him captain of the soldiers who kept him from danger.

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

Joab’s brother Asahel was among the thirty. Then there was Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 S hammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

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

Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27 A biezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

Abiezer the Anathothite, and Mebunnai the Hushathite.

28 Z almon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

There was Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

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

Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, and Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin.

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

There was Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the rivers of Gaash,

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

Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

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

Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, and Jonathan.

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

There was Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,

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

Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel of Gilo,

35 H ezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

Hezro the Carmelite, and Paarai the Arbite.

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

There was Igal the 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 the Beerothite, the one who carried the battle clothes of Joab the son of Zeruiah.

38 I ra the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

And there was Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

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

and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.