| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. | 1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Here we are, your own flesh and blood. |
| 2Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” | 2Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back. The LORD also said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.'" |
| 3Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel. | 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the LORD's presence, and they anointed David king over Israel. |
| 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. | 4David was 30 years old when he began his reign; he reigned 40 years. |
| 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. | 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah. |
| 6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.” | 6The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites had said to David: "You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you"; thinking, "David can't get in here." |
| 7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). | 7Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. |
| 8Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” | 8He said that day, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David." For this reason it is said, "The blind and the lame will never enter the house." |
| 9Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. | 9David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way around from the supporting terraces inward. |
| 10So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. | 10David became more and more powerful, and the LORD God of Hosts was with him. |
| 11Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. | 11King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David; he also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. |
| 12So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. | 12Then David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. |
| 13And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. | 13After he arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. |
| 14Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, | 14These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, |
| 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, | 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, |
| 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. | 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. |
| 17Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. | 17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of David, but he heard about it and went down to the stronghold. |
| 18The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. | 18So the Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. |
| 19So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.” | 19Then David inquired of the LORD: "Should I go to war against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD replied to David, "Go, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you." |
| 20So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. | 20So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, "Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me." Therefore, he named that place the Lord Bursts Out. |
| 21And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away. | 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. |
| 22Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. | 22The Philistines came up again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. |
| 23Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. | 23So David inquired of the LORD, and He answered, "Do not make a frontal assault. Circle around behind them and attack them opposite the balsam trees. |
| 24And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” | 24When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the LORD will have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines." |
| 25And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer. | 25So David did exactly as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer. |
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