2 Samuel 23 ISV NIV Parallel

◄ 2 Samuel 23 ►

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1This was David's last composition: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, an oracle by the valiant one who was exalted— anointed by the God of Jacob, the contented psalm writer of Israel.

1These are the last words of David: "The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel's songs:

2The Spirit of the LORD speaks within me; his word is on my tongue!

2"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

3The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has talked to me. "When one is governing men justly, he fears God while governing.

3The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,

4He is like dawn's first light, like bright sun blazing on a cloudless morning, glistening on grassland that flourishes after a rain shower.

4he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.'

5Is not my dynasty like this with God? Has he not made an eternal covenant with me, preparing every detail of it? And he has made it secure, including my complete salvation, has he not? He has been of continual help, has he not, even with respect to all of my desires?

5"If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire.

6But ungodly men are like thorns that are discarded because they cannot be safely handled.

6But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand.

7Whoever handles them wears heavy duty clothing, carries strong tools, and burns them to ashes on the spot!

7Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie."

8Here's a list of the names of David's special forces: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite was head of the Three; he was nicknamed Adino the Eznite because he killed 800 men in a single battle engagement.

8These are the names of David's mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

9Next was Dodai the Ahohite's son Eleazar. Eleazar, who also was one of the Three, was with David when they challenged the Philistines. When the Philistines had assembled in battle array, the Israeli army retreated,

9Next 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 gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated,

10but Eleazar remained standing right where he was and fought so hard against the Philistines that he became exhausted—he couldn't even let go of his sword! The LORD magnificently delivered them that day. After Eleazar had won the battle, the other soldiers returned, but only to strip the weapons and armor from the dead.

10but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

11Next was Shammah, Agee the Hararite's son. One time the Philistines assembled to fight in a field where lentils had been growing. Israel's army retreated from the Philistines,

11Next 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.

12but Shammah stood his ground in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great victory.

12But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

13One day while the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants, three of the 30 leaders joined David at the cave of Adullam.

13During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

14David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.

14At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

15David expressed his longing, "Oh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well that's by the city gate!"

15David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"

16So the Three elite warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out in the LORD's presence,

16So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.

17and said, "The LORD forbid that I drink this—this is the blood of men who endangered their own lives!" The Three elite warriors did these things.

17"Far be it from me, LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

18Zeruiah's son Abishai, Joab's brother, was the lieutenant in charge of the platoons. He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three.

18Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.

19He was more well-known than the Three, and became their commander, but he never measured up to the Three.

19Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

20Jehoiada's son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named Ariel from Moab and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day.

20Benaiah 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.

21He also killed a soldier from Egypt. Of handsome appearance, the Egyptian carried a spear, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

21And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

22Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three warriors.

22Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors.

23He was well known among the platoons, but he didn't measure up to the Three. David placed him in charge of his security detail.

23He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24Among the Thirty were Joab's brother Asahel, Dodo's son Elhanan of Bethlehem,

24Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

25Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod,

25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26Helez the Paltite, Ikkesh's son Ira from Tekoa,

26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,

27Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

27Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai the Hushathite,

28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah,

28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29Baanah's son Heleb from Netophah, Ribai's son Ittai from Gibeah of the descendants of Benjamin,

29Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,

30Benaiah from Pirathon, Hiddai from the Gaash creeks area,

30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash,

31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Bahurim,

31Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32Eliahba from Shaalbon, Jashen's sons,

32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan

33Shammah's son from Harar, Sharar the Hararite's son Ahiam,

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

34Ahasbai the Maacathite's son Eliphelet, Ahithophel the Gilonite's son Eliam,

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

35Hezro from Carmel, Paarai the Arbite,

35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36Nathan's son Igal from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri,

37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth (the armor-bearer for Zeruiah's son Joab),

37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite

39and Uriah the Hittite—for a total of 37.

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

New International Version (NIV)

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