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 [be] the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

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

The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in 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 spake to me, He that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling 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 [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

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.

Although my house [be] not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all [things], and sure: for [this is] all my salvation, and all [my] desire, although he make [it] not to grow.

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

But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

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] shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the [same] 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 [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same [was] Adino the Eznite: [he lift 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 Ahohite, [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied 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 arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

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 Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: 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 ground, 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 pitched 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 an hold, 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 drink of the water 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 brake 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: nevertheless 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: [is not this] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these 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 among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, [and] slew [them], and had the name among three.

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

Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was 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 many acts, he slew two lionlike men 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 the name among 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 Anethothite, 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, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

30 Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas,

Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of 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 Hararite,

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 Maachathite, 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, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

38 Ira the Jethrite, Gareb also a Jethrite;

Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

39 Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven in all.

Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.