| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1These are the final words of David: "The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised up as the ruler chosen by the God of Jacob, Israel's beloved singer of songs: | 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 LORD's spirit spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. | 2"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. |
| 3The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me. The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God, | 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, |
| 4is like the light of morning when the sun comes up, a morning in which there are no clouds. He is like the brightness after rain that produces grass from the earth. | 4he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.' |
| 5My dynasty is approved by God, for he has made a perpetual covenant with me, arranged in all its particulars and secured. He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition. | 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 evil people are like thorns--all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand. | 6But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. |
| 7The one who touches them must use an iron instrument or the wooden shaft of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they lie!" | 7Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie." |
| 8These are the names of David's warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers. He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle. | 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 in command was Eleazar son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three warriors who were with David when they defied the Philistines who were assembled there for battle. When the men of Israel 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, |
| 10he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand grew so tired that it seemed stuck to his sword. The LORD gave a great victory on that day. When the army returned to him, the only thing left to do was to plunder the corpses. | 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 in command was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines assembled at Lehi, where there happened to be an area of a field that was full of lentils, the army retreated before 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 he made a stand in the middle of that area. He defended it and defeated the Philistines; the LORD gave them 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. |
| 13At the time of the harvest three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the cave of Adullam. A band of Philistines was camped in the valley of Rephaim. | 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 in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. | 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. |
| 15David was thirsty and said, "How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the 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 forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the LORD | 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, "O LORD, I will not do this! It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going." So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors. | 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. |
| 18Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was head of the three. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame among 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. |
| 19From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of the three. | 19Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. |
| 20Benaiah son of Jehoida was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy 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 an impressive-looking Egyptian. The Egyptian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed 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. |
| 22Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoida, who gained fame among the three elite warriors. | 22Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. |
| 23He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard. | 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. |
| 24Included with the thirty were the following: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, | 24Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, |
| 25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, | 25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, |
| 26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, | 26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, |
| 27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, | 27Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai the Hushathite, |
| 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, | 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, |
| 29Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, | 29Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, |
| 30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash, | 30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash, |
| 31Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, | 31Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, |
| 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan | 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan |
| 33son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, | 33son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, |
| 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, | 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, |
| 35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, | 35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, |
| 36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, | 36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, |
| 37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah), | 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. Altogether there were thirty-seven. | 39and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all. |
|
