23:1 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,
23:1 Now these are the last words of David.Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:

23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.
23:2 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.

23:3 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.
23:3 The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.

23:4 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.
23:4 And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.'

23:5 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.
23:5 "Although my house is not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase?

23:6 But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
23:6 But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands.

23:7 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.
23:7 But the man who touches them Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."

23:8 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.
23:8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.

23:9 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:
23:9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated.

23:10 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.
23:10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

23:11 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.
23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. Then the people fled from the Philistines.

23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
23:12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great victory.

23:13 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.
23:13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

23:14 And David [was] then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines [was] then [in] Bethlehem.
23:14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

23:15 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!
23:15 And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"

23:16 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.
23:16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.

23:17 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.
23:17 And he said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

23:18 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.
23:18 Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three.

23:19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.
23:19 Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.

23:20 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:
23:20 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

23:21 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.
23:21 And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

23:22 These [things] did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.
23:22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men.

23:23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.
23:23 He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

23:24 Asahel the brother of Joab [was] one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
23:24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

23:25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
23:25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

23:26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
23:26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

23:27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
23:27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

23:28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
23:28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

23:29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
23:29 Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

23:30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
23:30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,

23:31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
23:31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

23:32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
23:32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite (of the sons of Jashen), Jonathan,

23:33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
23:33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

23:34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
23:34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

23:35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
23:35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

23:36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
23:36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

23:37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
23:37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),

23:38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
23:38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

23:39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
23:39 and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.