2 Samuel, 5

1. Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we [are] thy bone and thy flesh.

1. All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your bone and flesh.

2. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

2. In the past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel. And Yahweh said to you, 'You shall be the shepherd of my people Israel and you shall be commander over Israel."

3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

3. Before Yahweh, King David made an agreement with the elders of Israel who came to him at Hebron, and they anointed him king of Israel.

4. David [was] thirty years old when he began to reign, [and] he reigned forty years.

4. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years:

5. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

5. he reigned over Judah, from Hebron, seven and a half years; and over Israel and Judah, from Jerusalem, for thirty-three years.

6. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

6. The king and his men set out for Jerusalem to fight the Jebusites who lived there. They said to David, "If you try to break in here, the blind and the lame will drive you away," which meant that David could not get in.

7. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same [is] the city of David.

7. Yet David captured the fortress of Zion that became the "city of David."

8. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, [that are] hated of David's soul, [he shall be chief and captain]. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

8. That day David said, "Whoever wants to defeat the Jebusites, let him reach these lame and blind, David's enemies, through the tunnel for fetching water." From this came the saying, "The blind and the lame shall not enter the house."

9. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

9. David lived in the fortress, calling it the City of David, and proceeded to build the city around it, from the Millo and inside as well.

10. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts [was] with him.

10. And David grew more powerful, for Yahweh, the God of hosts, was with him.

11. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

11. Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters and masons to build a house for David.

12. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

12. David then understood that Yahweh had made him king over Israel and had exalted his reign for the sake of his people Israel.

13. And David took [him] more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

13. After David had come from Hebron he took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

14. And these [be] the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

14. These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15. Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

15. Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16. And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

16. Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

17. But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard [of it], and went down to the hold.

17. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they went to search for him. On hearing this, David went down to the stronghold.

18. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

18. When the Philistines overran the valley of Rephaim,

19. And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

19. David consulted Yahweh, "Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?" Yahweh answered David, "Go ahead, for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hands."

20. And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

20. So David came to Baalperazim where he defeated them. He said, "Yahweh has scattered my enemies before me like a sudden bursting flood." That is why that place is called Baalperazim.

21. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

21. There the Philistines left their idols and David and his men picked them up.

22. And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

22. The Philistines went up again and overran the valley of Rephaim.

23. And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; [but] fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

23. David consulted Yahweh who said, "Do not go up straight but circle around and attack them from behind when you are in front of the balsam trees.

24. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

24. Once you hear a marching sound on top of the balsam trees, act quickly, for Yahweh is going ahead of you to attack the Philistine army."

25. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

25. David obeyed Yahweh's command and struck down the Philistines from Giba to as far as Gezer.