2 Samuel 23

1 Now these are David’s last words. David the son of Isai said: The man to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob, the excellent psalmist of Israel said:

Now these are the last words of David: The saying of David the son of Jesse, and the saying of the man raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet singer of Israel:

2 The spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me and his word by my tongue.

The spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was upon my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said to me, the strong one of Israel spoke, the ruler of men, the just ruler in the fear of God.

The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'Ruler over men shall be the righteous, even he that ruleth in the fear of God,

4 As the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, shineth in the morning without clouds, and as the grass springeth out of the earth by rain.

And as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, a morning without clouds; when through clear shining after rain, the tender grass springeth out of the earth.'

5 Neither is my house so great with God, that he should make with me an eternal covenant, firm in all things and assured. For he is all my salvation, and all my will: neither is there ought thereof that springeth not up.

For is not my house established with God? for an everlasting covenant He hath made with me, ordered in all things, and sure; for all my salvation, and all my desire, will he not make it to grow?

6 But transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns: which are not taken away with hands.

But the ungodly, they are as thorns thrust away, all of them, for they cannot be taken with the hand;

7 And if a man will touch them, he must be armed with iron and with the staff of a lance: but they shall be set on fire and burnt to nothing.

But the man that toucheth them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

8 These are the names of the valiant men of David. Jesbaham sitting in the chair was the wisest chief among the three, he was like the most tender little worm of the wood, who killed eight hundred men at one onset.

These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite; he lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three valiant men that were with David when they defied the Philistines, and they were there gathered together to battle.

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they jeoparded their lives against the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away;

10 And when the men of Israel were gone away, he stood and smote the Philistines till his hand was weary, and grew stiff with the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day: and the people that were fled away, returned to take spoils of them that were slain.

he stood firm, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand did cleave unto the sword; and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

11 And after him was Semma the son of Age of Arari. And the Philistines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field full of lentils. And when the people were fled from the face of the Philistines,

And after him was Shammah the son of Age the Ararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.

12 He stood in the midst of the field, and defended it, and defeated the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory.

But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD wrought a great victory.

13 Moreover also before this the three who were princes among the thirty, went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of the giants.

And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

14 And David was then in a hold. and there was a garrison of the Philistines then in Bethlehem.

And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.

15 And David longed, and said: O that some man would get me a drink of the water out of the cistern, that is in Bethlehem, by the gate.

And David longed, and said: 'Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!'

16 And the three valiant men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and brought it to David: but he would not drink, but offered it to the Lord,

And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

17 Saying: The Lord be merciful to me, that I may not do this: shall I drink the blood of these men that went, and the peril of their lives? therefore he would not drink. These things did these three mighty men.

And he said: 'Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this; shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?' therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

18 Abisai also the brother of Joab, the son of Sarvia, was chief among three: and he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew, and he was renowned among the three,

And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three.

19 And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three first he attained not.

He was most honourable of the three; therefore he was made their captain; howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

20 And Banaias the son of Joiada a most valiant man, of great deeds, of Cabseel: he slew the two lions of Moab, and he went down, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit, in the time of snow.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he smote the two altar-hearths of Moab; he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow;

21 He also slew an Egyptian, a man worthy to be a sight, having a spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a rod, and forced the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his own spear.

and he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man; and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

22 These things did Banaias the son of Joiada.

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

23 And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the most honourable among the thirty: but he attained riot to the first three: and David made him of his privy council.

He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

24 Asael the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elehanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem.

Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem;

25 Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harodi,

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite;

26 Heles of Phalti, Hira the son of Acces of Thecua,

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

27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mobonnai of Husati,

Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite;

28 Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite;

29 Heled the son of Baana, also a Netophathite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin,

Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin;

30 Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas,

Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of Nahale-gaash;

31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi,

Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite;

32 Eliaba of Salaboni. The sons of Jassen, Jonathan,

Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan;

33 Semma of Orori, Aliam the son of Sarar the Arorite,

Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite;

34 Eliphelet the son of Aasbai the son of Machati, Eliam the son of Achitophel the Gelonite,

Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;

35 Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi,

Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite;

36 Igaal the son of Nathan of Soba, Bonni of Gadi,

Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite;

37 Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite, armourbearer of Joab the son of Sarvia,

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armour-bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah;

38 Ira the Jethrite, Gareb also a Jethrite;

Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite;

39 Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven in all.

Uriah the Hittite. Thirty and seven in all.