2 Samuel 23

1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man whom God raised up, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:

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 spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me, and his word was upon my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, 'One who rules over men righteously, who rules 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 shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after 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 Most certainly my house is not so with God, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he doesn't make it grow.

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 all of the ungodly shall be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can't be taken with the hand,

But the godless are all of them as waving thorns, which cannot be taken in the hand;

7 But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."

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 warriors whom David had: Jeshbaal the son of Hachmoni, leader of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.

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 warriors. He was with David in Pas Dammim when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated.

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 He arose, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and the LORD worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil.

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 After him was Shamma the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from 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 But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD worked 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 And three of the Thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

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 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was 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 had a craving and said, "Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is 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 The Three warriors broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but he would not drink of it, but poured it out 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 He said, "Far be it from me, LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. The Three warriors did these things.

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 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was leader of the Thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name beside 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 He was the most illustrious of the Thirty, and he became their leader. However he did not attain to the Three.

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

20 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, who performed great deeds. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in 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 killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature. And the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed 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 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the Three warriors.

These things did Benayahu the son of Yehoyada', and he had a name among the three mighty men.

23 He was more honored than the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. David set him over his guard.

He was more honored than the thirty; but he attained not to these three. And David appointed him in his private council.

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

'Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elchanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lechem,

25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

Shammah the Charodite, Elika the Charodite,

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

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

27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbekai the Hushathite,

Abi'ezer the 'Anethothite, Mebunnai the Chushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

Zalmon the Achochite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29 Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin,

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

30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of Nahale Gaash.

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

31 Abiel son of the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Bahurimite,

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

32 Eliahba the Shaalbinite, Jashen the Gizonite,

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

33 Jonathan son of Shamma the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sakar the Hararite,

Shammah the Hararite, Achiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,

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

Eliphelet the son of Achasbai, the son of the Ma'achathite, Eli'am the son of Achithophel the Gilonite,

35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

Chezrai, the Carmelite, Pa'arai the Arbite,

36 Igal the son of Nathan, from the army of the Hagrites,

Yigal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

Zelek the 'Ammonite, Nacharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruyah,

38 Ira the Jattirite, Gareb the Jattirite,

'Ira the Yithrite, Gareb the Yithrite,

39 Uriah the Hethite: thirty-seven in all.

Uriyah the Hittite: in all thirty and seven.