| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1These are the last words of David: The declaration of David son of Jesse, the declaration of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, the favorite singer of Israel: | 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. |
| 2The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me, His word was on my tongue. | 2The Spirit of the LORD speaks within me; his word is on my tongue! |
| 3The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me," The one who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, | 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. |
| 4is like the morning light when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, the glisten of rain on sprouting grass." | 4He is like dawn's first light, like bright sun blazing on a cloudless morning, glistening on grassland that flourishes after a rain shower. |
| 5Is it not true my house is with God? For He has established an everlasting covenant with me, ordered and secured in every detail. Will He not bring about my whole salvation and my every desire? | 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? |
| 6But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside; they can never be picked up by hand. | 6But ungodly men are like thorns that are discarded because they cannot be safely handled. |
| 7The man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear. They will be completely burned up on the spot. | 7Whoever handles them wears heavy duty clothing, carries strong tools, and burns them to ashes on the spot! |
| 8These are the names of David's warriors: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers. He wielded his spear against 800 men that he killed at one time. | 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. |
| 9After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle, | 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, |
| 10but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead. | 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. |
| 11After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines, | 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, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 13Three of the 30 leading warriors went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was camping in the Valley of Rephaim. | 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. |
| 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. | 14David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem. |
| 15David was extremely thirsty and said, "If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of 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!" |
| 16So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the LORD. | 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, |
| 17David said, " LORD, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?" So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors. | 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. |
| 18Abishai, Joab's brother and son of Zeruiah, was leader of the Three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. | 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. |
| 19Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three. | 19He was more well-known than the Three, and became their commander, but he never measured up to the Three. |
| 20Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. | 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. |
| 21He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and then killed him with his own spear. | 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. |
| 22These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. | 22Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three warriors. |
| 23He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard. | 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. |
| 24Among the Thirty were: Joab's brother Asahel, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, | 24Among the Thirty were Joab's brother Asahel, Dodo's son Elhanan of Bethlehem, |
| 25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, | 25Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod, |
| 26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, | 26Helez the Paltite, Ikkesh's son Ira from Tekoa, |
| 27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, | 27Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, |
| 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, | 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, |
| 29Heleb son of Baanah the Netophahite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites, | 29Baanah's son Heleb from Netophah, Ribai's son Ittai from Gibeah of the descendants of Benjamin, |
| 30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash, | 30Benaiah from Pirathon, Hiddai from the Gaash creeks area, |
| 31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, | 31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Bahurim, |
| 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of | 32Eliahba from Shaalbon, Jashen's sons, |
| 33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, | 33Shammah's son from Harar, Sharar the Hararite's son Ahiam, |
| 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, | 34Ahasbai the Maacathite's son Eliphelet, Ahithophel the Gilonite's son Eliam, |
| 35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, | 35Hezro from Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, |
| 36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, | 36Nathan's son Igal from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, |
| 37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer for Joab son of Zeruiah, | 37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth (the armor-bearer for Zeruiah's son Joab), |
| 38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, | 38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, |
| 39and Uriah the Hittite. There were 37 in all. | 39and Uriah the Hittite—for a total of 37. |
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