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:

And these are the last words of David. Thus saith David the son of Jesse, and thus saith the man who was raised up 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 through 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.

[Thus] said the God of Israel, concerning me spoke the Rock of Israel, That [I should be] ruler over men, be righteous, 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 as in the light of morning the sun riseth, in a morning without clouds, with more than the brightness [reflected] by rain on the herbs that spring from 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.

Truly is not so my house with God? since he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, firm in all, and sure? yea, will he not cause to grow all my salvation, and all my desire?

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

But the godless are all of them as waving thorns, which cannot be taken in 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 will touch them must protect his hand with iron and the staff of a spear: and they will be utterly burnt with fire in the dwelling.

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: Yosheb-bashebeth, the Thachkemonite, the chief among the captains, —the same as 'Adino the 'Eznite, —because of eight hundred slain 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 El'azar the son of Dodo, the son of Achochi, 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 had withdrawn themselves;

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 then arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand did cleave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory on 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 Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, and there was a piece of ground full of lentiles; and the people had 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 placed himself in the midst of the ground, and delivered it, and smote 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 these three, the chiefs of the thirty, went down, and came to David at harvest-time unto the cave of 'Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines was 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 strong-hold, and an outpost of the Philistines was then in Beth-lechem.

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 bring me water to drink out of the well at Beth-lechem, 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 camp of the Philistines; and drew water out of the well of Beth-lechem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but he would not drink thereof, and 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, Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this: [is not this] the blood of the men that went at the risk of their life? and thus 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 Zeruyah, was the chief of these three; and he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain, 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.

Although he was the most honored of the three, wherefore he became their captain: he nevertheless attained not unto the three [in prowess].

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 Benayahu the son of Yehoyada', the son of a valiant man, great in many acts of Kabzeel; he it was that smote the two lion-like heroes of Moab; he also went down and slew a lion in the midst of a pit on a day when it snowed;

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 man of good appearance; and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and he snatched 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 Benayahu the son of Yehoyada', and he 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 honored than the thirty; but he attained not to these three. And David appointed him in his private council.

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; Elchanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lechem,

25 Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harodi,

Shammah the Charodite, Elika the Charodite,

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

Chelez the Paltite, 'Ira the son of 'Ikkesh the Teko'ite,

27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mobonnai of Husati,

Abi'ezer the 'Anethothite, Mebunnai the Chushathite,

28 Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

Zalmon the Achochite, Maharai the Netophathite,

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

Cheleb the son of Ba'anah, the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gib'ah of the children of Benjamin,

30 Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas,

Benayahu the Pir'athonite, Hiddai of Nachale-Ga'ash,

31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi,

Abi-'albon the 'Arbathite, 'Azmaveth the Barchumite,

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

Elyachba the Sha'albonite, Bne-yashen, Jonathan,

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

Shammah the Hararite, Achiam 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 Achasbai, the son of the Ma'achathite, Eli'am the son of Achithophel the Gilonite,

35 Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi,

Chezrai, the Carmelite, Pa'arai the Arbite,

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

Yigal 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, Nacharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruyah,

38 Ira the Jethrite, Gareb also a Jethrite;

'Ira the Yithrite, Gareb the Yithrite,

39 Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven in all.

Uriyah the Hittite: in all thirty and seven.