2 Samuel, 23

1. 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,

1. These are the last words of David: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man whom God exalted, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the singer of the songs of Israel:

2. The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.

2. "The Spirit of Yahweh speaks through me, his word is on my tongue.

3. 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.

3. The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: when one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,

4. 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.

4. he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, making grass sprout from the ground after the rain.

5. 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.

5. Yes, is not my family like this before God? He has made with me an eternal covenant, orderly and secure. Will he not complete my salvation and fulfill my desire?

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

6. But godless men are like thorns that are thrown away. They cannot be held with one's hand

7. 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.

7. but are uprooted with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are burned in fire."

8. 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.

8. These are the names of the warriors who were with David: the first of the Three was Ishbaal, a Hachemonite who wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he slew in a single encounter.

9. 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:

9. Next was Eleazar, son of Dodo, son of Ahohi, who was with David when they challenged the Philistines who were gathered there for battle. When he saw the retreat of the Israelites,

10. 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.

10. he fought and struck down the Philistines until his hand grew tired from holding the sword without pause. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day.The others returned after him, but only to strip the slain.

11. 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.

11. Next was Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground planted to barley, and the men fled from the Philistines.

12. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

12. But Shammah stood in the middle of the plot to defend it and slew the Philistines. And Yahweh worked a great victory.

13. 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.

13. At about harvest time, three of the Thirty went down to David at the cave of Adullam while a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

14. And David [was] then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines [was] then [in] Bethlehem.

14. David was in the stronghold while the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

15. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [is] by the gate!

15. David longed for water and said, "Who will give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!"

16. And the three mighty men brake through the host 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: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

16. At this, the three warriors broke through the Philistine camp, drew water out of the well by the gate of Bethlehem and brought it to David. But David refused to drink of it and poured it out as an offering to Yahweh.

17. 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.

17. He said, "By no means should I do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who risked their lives?" Therefore, he refused to drink it. These were the deeds of the three warriors.

18. 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.

18. Now Abishai, brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and slew them, winning a name beside the Thirty.

19. Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.

19. Though he was the most popular of the Thirty and became their commander, he did not equal the Three.

20. 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:

20. Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a warrior of Kabzeel, was a man of great achievements who killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and slew a lion.

21. 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.

21. He slew a handsome Egyptian who held a spear. Benaiah went against him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

22. These [things] did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

22. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, did these things and won a name beside the thirty warriors.

23. He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.

23. He was popular among the Thirty but did not equal the Three. David put him in command of his bodyguard.

24. Asahel the brother of Joab [was] one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

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

25. Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

25. Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod;

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

26. Helez, the Paltite; Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa;

27. Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

27. Abiezor of Anathoth; Mebunnai, the Hushathite,

28. Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

28. Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai of Netophah;

29. Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

29. Jeleb, the son of Baanah of Netophah; Ittai, the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Ben-jaminites;

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

30. Benaiah of Pirathon; Hiddai, of the brooks of Gaash;

31. Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

31. Abialbon, the Arbathite; Azmaveth of Bahurim;

32. Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

32. Eliahba of Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen, Jonathan;

33. Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

33. Shammah, the Hararite; Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Hararite,

34. Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

34. Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai of Maacah; Eliam, the son of Ahithophel of Gilo;

35. Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

35. Hezro of Carmel; Paarai the Arbite;

36. Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

36. Igal, the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani, the Gadite;

37. Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

37. Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah,

38. Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

38. Ira, the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;

39. Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

39. Uriah, the Hittite - thirty-seven in all.