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. David, the son of Jesse, says, the man who was lifted up on high, the man on whom the God of Jacob put the holy oil, the loved one of Israel's songs, says:
2 The spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me and his word by my tongue.
The spirit of the Lord had voice through me, his word was on 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 word of the Rock of Israel came to me: When an upright king is ruling over men, when he is 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.
It is as the light of the morning, when the sun comes up, a morning without clouds; making young grass come to life 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.
For is not my house so with God? For he has made with me an eternal agreement, ordered in all things and certain: as for all my salvation and all my desire, will he not give it increase?
6 But transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns: which are not taken away with hands.
But the evil-doers, all of them, will be like thorns to be pushed away, because they may not be gripped 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 anyone touching them has to be armed with iron and the rod of a spear; and they will be burned with fire, every one of them.
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 David's men of war: Ishbaal the Hachmonite, chief of the three; his axe was lifted up against eight hundred put to death 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.
After him was Eleazar, the son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three great fighters, who was with David in Pas-dammim when the Philistines came together there for the fight; and when the men of Israel had gone in flight,
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 was with David and went on fighting the Philistines till his hand became tired and stiff from gripping his sword: and that day the Lord gave a great salvation, and the people came back after him only to take the goods of the Philistines.
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,
After him was Shammah, the son of Ela the Hararite. And the Philistines came together in Lehi, where there was a bit of land full of seed; and the people went in flight 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 kept his place in the middle of the bit of land, and kept back their attack and overcame the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great salvation.
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 went down at the start of the grain-cutting, and they came to David at the strong place of Adullam; and the band of Philistines had taken up their position 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 at that time David had taken cover in the strong place, and an armed force of the Philistines was 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, moved by a strong desire, said, If only someone would give me a drink of water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town!
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 men, forcing their way through the Philistine army, got water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town, and took it back to David: but he would not take it, but, draining it out, made an offering of it to 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, to do this; how may I take as my drink the life-blood of men who have put their lives in danger? So he would not take it. These things did the three great men of war.
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 thirty. He put to death three hundred with his spear, and he got for himself a name among the thirty.
19 And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three first he attained not.
Was he not the noblest of the thirty? so he was made their captain: but he was not equal to 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, a fighting man of Kabzeel, had done great acts; he put to death the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down into a hole and put a lion to death 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 made an attack on an Egyptian, a tall man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a stick, and pulling the spear out of the hands of the Egyptian, put him to death with that same spear.
22 These things did Banaias the son of Joiada.
These were the acts of Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, who had a great name among the thirty men of war.
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 honoured over the rest of the thirty, but he was not equal to the first three. And David put him over the fighting men who kept him safe.
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; and Elhanan, the son of Dodai, 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, Sibbecai 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,
Heldai, 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 the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the valleys of Gaash,
31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi,
Abiel the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim,
32 Eliaba of Salaboni. The sons of Jassen, Jonathan,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, Jashen the Gunite,
33 Semma of Orori, Aliam the son of Sarar the Arorite,
Jonathan, the son of 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 Maacathite, Eliam, the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi,
Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Archite,
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, who had the care of the arms of Joab, 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-seven in number.
