| Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 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. This is the most delightful of Israel's songs. | 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: |
| 2The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me, his word was on my tongue. | 2The LORD's spirit 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 the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, | 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, |
| 4is like the morning light when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, the glisten of rain on sprouting grass." | 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. |
| 5Is it not true my house is with God? For he has established a permanent covenant with me, ordered and secured in every detail. Will he not bring about my whole salvation and my every desire? | 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. |
| 6But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside; they can never be picked up by hand. | 6But evil people are like thorns--all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand. |
| 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. | 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!" |
| 8These are the names of David's warriors: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men that he killed at one time. | 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. |
| 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 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, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 he made a stand in the middle of that area. He defended it and defeated the Philistines; the LORD gave them a great victory. |
| 13Three of the thirty 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. | 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. |
| 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. | 14David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in 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 was thirsty and said, "How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the 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 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 |
| 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, "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. |
| 18Abishai, Joab's brother and son of Zeruiah, was leader of the Three. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. | 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. |
| 19Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three. | 19From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of 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. | 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. |
| 21He also killed an Egyptian, an impressive 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 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. |
| 22These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. | 22Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoida, who gained fame among the three elite 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 received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard. |
| 24Among the Thirty were Joab's brother Asahel, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, | 24Included with the thirty were the following: 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 the Tekoite, | 26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, |
| 27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, | 27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, |
| 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, | 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, |
| 29Heleb son of Baanah the Netophahite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites, | 29Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, |
| 30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash, | 30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash, |
| 31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, | 31Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, |
| 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of | 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan |
| 33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, | 33son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, |
| 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, | 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, |
| 35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, | 35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, |
| 36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, | 36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, |
| 37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer for 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 Hethite. There were thirty-seven in all. | 39and Uriah the Hittite. Altogether there were thirty-seven. |
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