| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1These are the last words of David: “David, the son of Jesse, speaks— David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel. | 1These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel: |
| 2“The Spirit of the LORD speaks through me; his words are upon my tongue. | 2The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. |
| 3The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, | 3The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, |
| 4is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.’ | 4is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’ |
| 5“Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success. | 5Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire? |
| 6But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away, for they tear the hand that touches them. | 6But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand. |
| 7One must use iron tools to chop them down; they will be totally consumed by fire.” David’s Mightiest Warriors | 7The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.” |
| 8These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three —the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle. | 8These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. |
| 9Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. | 9Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, |
| 10He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the LORD gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder! | 10but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. |
| 11Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, | 11And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. |
| 12but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory. | 12But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory. |
| 13Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. | 13At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. |
| 14David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. | 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. |
| 15David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” | 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 broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD. | 16So 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, |
| 17“The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. David’s Thirty Mighty Men | 17saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. |
| 18Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. | 18Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. |
| 19Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three. | 19Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three. |
| 20There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. | 20And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. |
| 21Once, armed only with a club, he killed an imposing Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. | 21He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. |
| 22Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors. | 22These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men. |
| 23He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard. | 23He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard. |
| 24Other members of the Thirty included: Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem; | 24Now these were members of the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, |
| 25Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod; | 25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, |
| 26Helez from Pelon ; Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; | 26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, |
| 27Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai from Hushah; | 27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, |
| 28Zalmon from Ahoah; Maharai from Netophah; | 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, |
| 29Heled son of Baanah from Netophah; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin); | 29Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, |
| 30Benaiah from Pirathon; Hurai from Nahale-gaash ; | 30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, |
| 31Abi-albon from Arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim; | 31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, |
| 32Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan | 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan |
| 33son of Shagee from Harar; Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar; | 33son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, |
| 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh; | 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, |
| 35Hezro from Carmel; Paarai from Arba; | 35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, |
| 36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani from Gad; | 36Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, |
| 37Zelek from Ammon; Naharai from Beeroth, the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah; | 37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, |
| 38Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir; | 38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, |
| 39Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all. | 39and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all. |
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