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Chapter 23
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Verse 1

These are the last words of David: the declaration of David, son of Jesse, the declaration of the man who was raised up on high, the anointed one of the God of Jacob, and the sweet singer of Israel.

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,

Verse 2

The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me, and His word was on my tongue.

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

Verse 3

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'The one who rules over people must be righteous, ruling in the fear of God.'

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.

Verse 4

He is like the light of morning at sunrise, a morning without clouds, like brightness after rain that brings grass to sprout from the earth.

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.

Verse 5

Is not my house right with God? He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For He is all my salvation and all my desire, and He will not fail to make it grow.

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.

Verse 6

But wicked people are like thorns cast aside, for they cannot be gathered with the hand.

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

Verse 7

Anyone who touches them must arm himself with iron or the shaft of a spear, and they are burned up completely where they lie.

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.

Verse 8

These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the captains. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

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.

Verse 9

Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines who had gathered there for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated,

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:

Verse 10

but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines until his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD gave a great victory that day. The troops returned to him only to strip the dead.

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.

Verse 11

Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them.

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.

Verse 12

But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

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

Verse 13

During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

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.

Verse 14

At that time, David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

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

Verse 15

David longed for water and said, 'Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!'

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!

Verse 16

So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD.

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.

Verse 17

He said, 'Far be it from me, LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?' So he refused to drink it. These were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

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.

Verse 18

Abishai, the brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and he became as famous as the Three.

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.

Verse 19

Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

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

Verse 20

Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

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:

Verse 21

And he struck down a huge Egyptian, although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand. Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

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.

Verse 22

These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained a name among the three mighty warriors.

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

Verse 23

He was more honored than the Thirty, but he did not attain to the rank of the Three. And David put him in charge of his guard.

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

Verse 24

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

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

Verse 25

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

Verse 26

Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,

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

Verse 27

Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

Verse 28

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

Verse 29

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,

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

Verse 30

Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the valleys of Gaash,

Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

Verse 31

Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

Verse 32

Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

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

Verse 33

Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

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

Verse 34

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

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

Verse 35

Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

Verse 36

Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

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

Verse 37

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

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

Verse 38

Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

Verse 39

and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

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Chapter 23
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