2 Samuel 23

1 Now these are the last words of David— David son of Jesse, the man who was highly honored, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

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:

2 “The Spirit of Yahweh 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 The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me, 'The one who rules righteously over men, who rules in the fear of God.

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,

4 He will be like the morning light when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs up from the earth through bright sunshine after rain.

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.'

5 Indeed, is my family not like this before God? Has he not made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered and sure in every way? Does he not increase my salvation and fulfill my every desire?

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.

6 But the worthless will all be like thorns to be thrown away, because they cannot be gathered by one's hands.

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

7 The man who touches them must use an iron tool or the shaft of a spear. They must be burned up where they lie.'”

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."

8 These are the names of David's mighty men: Jeshbaal the Hachmonite was the leader of the mighty men. He killed eight hundred men on one occasion.

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.

9 After him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. He was with David when they taunted the Philistines who had gathered together to do battle, and when the men of Israel had retreated.

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.

10 Eleazar stood and fought the Philistines until his hand became weary and his hand stiffened to the grip of his sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day. The army returned after Eleazar, only to strip the bodies.

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.

11 After him was Shammah son of Agee, a Hararite. The Philistines gathered together where there was a field of lentils, and the army fled from them.

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.

12 But Shammah stood in the middle of the field and defended it. He killed the Philistines, and Yahweh brought about a great victory.

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

13 Three of the thirty soldiers went down to David at harvest time, to the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

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.

14 At that time David was in his stronghold, a cave, while the Philistines had established at Bethlehem.

David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15 David was longing for water and said, “If only someone would give me water to drink from the well at Bethlehem, the well that is by the gate!”

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."

16 So these three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, the well at the gate. They took the water and brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to Yahweh.

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.

17 Then he said, “Yahweh, far be it from me, that I should do this. Should I drink the blood of men who have risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. These things were done by the three mighty.

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.

18 Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was captain over the three. He once fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them. He was often mentioned along with the three soldiers.

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.

19 Was he not even more famous than the three? He was made their captain. However, his fame did not equal the fame of the three most famous soldiers.

He was the most illustrious of the Thirty, and he became their leader. However he did not attain to the Three.

20 Benaiah from Kabzeel was the son of Jehoiada; he was a strong man who did mighty feats. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion while it was snowing.

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.

21 Then he killed a very large Egyptian man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah fought against him with only a staff. He seized the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and then killed him with his own spear.

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.

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the Three warriors.

23 He was more highly regarded than the thirty soldiers in general, but he was not regarded quite as highly as the three mighty men. Yet David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

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

24 The thirty included the following men: Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

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

25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

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

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

27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbekai the Hushathite,

Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbekai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite;

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29 Heleb son of Baanah, the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,

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

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the valleys of Gaash.

Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of Nahale Gaash.

31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

Abiel son of the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Bahurimite,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite;

Eliahba the Shaalbinite, Jashen the Gizonite,

33 Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

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

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

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

35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani from the tribe of Gad,

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

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

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

38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira the Jattirite, Gareb the Jattirite,

39 Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.

Uriah the Hethite: thirty-seven in all.