2 Samuel 23

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,

1These are the last words of David, the son of Jesse. God lifted him up to be king. Oil was poured on his head to show God had chosen him. He wrote sweet songs for Israel. Here is what he said.

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

2The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me. His words were on my tongue.

3The 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.

3The God of Israel spoke to me. He is the Rock who keeps Israel safe. He said, "A ruler of people must be fair. He must rule with respect for God."

4And 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.

4Such a ruler is like light in the morning when the sun comes up. He is like a bright morning with no clouds at all. He is like new grass shining after rain.

5Although 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.

5My own family is not all it should be before God. Even so, God made a promise with me that lasts forever. Every part of it is settled and sure. That promise saves me. It is all I want, even if God does not make it grow now.

NoteThe old Hebrew of this verse is hard to read. Some Bibles turn it into questions: "Is not my house right with God? Will He not bring about my salvation?" The words about God's lasting promise are the same either way.

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

6But wicked people are like thorns thrown out of the way. No one can pick them up with bare hands.

NoteThe KJV says "sons of Belial." That is an old way of saying worthless or wicked people. It is not the name of a person here.

7But 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.

7Anyone who touches them needs iron tools or the handle of a spear. The thorns are burned up right where they lie.

8These 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.

8Here are the names of David's mighty men, his bravest fighters. The Tachmonite sat in the top seat as chief of the captains. He was also called Adino the Eznite. He raised his spear against eight hundred men and killed them at one time.

9And 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:

9Next was Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three mighty men with David. They shouted against the Philistines, a people who fought Israel. The Philistines had gathered for battle, and Israel's men ran away.

10He 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.

10Eleazar stayed and fought the Philistines until his hand was worn out. His hand stuck to his sword. The LORD won a great victory that day. The other men came back only to take things from the dead.

11And 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.

11After him came Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered in a field full of lentils, which are small beans people eat. Israel's men ran away from them.

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

12But Shammah stood in the middle of that field. He kept it safe and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD won a great victory.

13And 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.

13At harvest time, three of the thirty leaders came down to David. He was at the cave of Adullam. Philistine soldiers were camped in the valley of Rephaim.

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

14At that time David was in a strong, safe hiding place. Philistine soldiers were camped in Bethlehem.

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

15David was longing for water. He said, "I wish someone would bring me a drink from the well by the gate in Bethlehem!"

16And 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.

16So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp. They drew water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem. They carried it back to David. But he would not drink it. He poured it out on the ground as a gift to the LORD.

17And 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.

17He said, "LORD, I must never do this. These men risked their lives to get this water. Drinking it would be like drinking their blood." So he would not drink it. These are the things the three mighty men did.

18And 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.

18Abishai was Joab's brother and the son of Zeruiah. He was the chief of the three. He raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them. He became famous, like the three.

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

19He was the most honored of the three, so he became their leader. But he was not one of the first three.

20And 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:

20Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, a brave man from Kabzeel. Benaiah did many brave things. He killed two of Moab's best fighters. On a snowy day he climbed down into a pit and killed a lion.

21And 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.

21He also killed an Egyptian, a very big man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. Benaiah went at him with only a club. He pulled the spear away and killed the man with it.

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

22These are the brave things Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, did. He became famous, like the three mighty men.

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

23He was honored more than the thirty. But he was not one of the first three. David put him in charge of his own guards.

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

24Asahel, the brother of Joab, was one of the thirty. So was Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem.

25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

25Also Shammah from Harod, and Elika from Harod.

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

26Also Helez the Paltite, and Ira the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa.

27Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

27Also Abiezer from Anathoth, and Mebunnai from Hushah.

28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

28Also Zalmon the Ahohite, and Maharai from Netophah.

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

29Also Heleb, son of Baanah from Netophah, and Ittai, son of Ribai. Ittai came from Gibeah, a town of the family of Benjamin.

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

30Also Benaiah from Pirathon, and Hiddai from the streams of Gaash.

31Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

31Also Abialbon from Arabah, and Azmaveth from Barhum.

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

32Also Eliahba from Shaalbon, and Jonathan, one of the sons of Jashen.

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

33Also Shammah from Harar, and Ahiam, the son of Sharar from Harar.

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

34Also Eliphelet, son of Ahasbai from Maacah. Also Eliam, the son of Ahithophel from Giloh.

35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

35Also Hezrai from Carmel, and Paarai the Arbite.

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

36Also Igal, son of Nathan from Zobah, and Bani from the family of Gad.

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

37Also Zelek from Ammon. Also Nahari from Beeroth, who carried the weapons for Joab, son of Zeruiah.

38Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

38Also Ira the Ithrite, and Gareb the Ithrite.

39Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

39And Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven men in all.