2 Samuel 23

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 These are the last words of David: "The utterance of David, son of Jesse; the utterance of the man God raised up, Anointed of the God of Jacob, favorite of the Mighty One of Israel.	1 These are the last words of David: Thus speaks David son of Jesse, thus speaks the man raised toeminence, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the singer of the songs of Israel:
2 The spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.	2 The spirit of Yahweh speaks through me, his word is on my tongue;
3 The God of Israel spoke; of me the Rock of Israel said, 'He that rules over men in justice, that rules in the fear of God,	3 the God of Jacob has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: He whose rule is upright on earth,who rules in the fear of God,
4 Is like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning, making the greensward sparkle after rain.'	4 is like the morning light at sunrise (on a cloudless morning) making the grass of the earth sparkle afterrain.
5 Is not my house firm before God? He has made an eternal covenant with me, set forth in detail and secured. Will he not bring to fruition all my salvation and my every desire?	5 Yes, my House stands firm with God: he has made an eternal covenant with me, al in order, welassured; does he not bring to fruition my every victory and desire?
6 But the wicked are all like thorns to be cast away; they cannot be taken up by hand.	6 But men of Belial he rejects like thorns, for these are never taken up in the hand:
7 He who wishes to touch them must arm himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they must be consumed by fire."	7 no one touches them except with a pitchfork or spear-shaft, and then only to burn them to nothing!
8 These are the names of David's warriors. Ishbaal, son of Hachamoni, was the first of the Three. It was he who brandished his battle-ax over eight hundred slain in a single encounter.	8 These are the names of David's champions: Ishbaal the Hachmonite leader of the Three; it was hewho brandished his spear over eight hundred men whom he had kil ed at one time.
9 Next to him, among the Three warriors, was Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was with David at Ephes-dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. The Israelites had retreated,	9 Next, there was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three champions. He was with David atPas-Dammim when the Philistines mustered for battle there and the men of Israel had disbanded.
10 but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand grew tired and became cramped, holding fast to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory on that day; the soldiers turned back after Eleazar, but only to strip the slain.	10 But he stood his ground and cut down the Philistines until his hand was so stiff that he could not letgo of the sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day, and the people rallied behind him, although onlyto plunder.
11 Next to him was Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled at Lehi, where there was a plot of land full of lentils. When the soldiers fled from the Philistines,	11 Next, there was Shamma son of Elah, the Hararite. The Philistines had mustered at Lehi. There wasa field ful of lentils there; the people fled from the Philistines,
12 he took his stand in the middle of the plot and defended it. He slew the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory. Such were the deeds of the Three warriors.	12 but he took his stand in the middle of the field, held it, and cut down the Philistines; and Yahwehbrought about a great victory.
13 During the harvest three of the Thirty went down to David in the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine clan was encamped in the Vale of Rephaim.	13 Three members of the Thirty went down at the beginning of the harvest and came to David at theCave of Adullam while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Val ey of the Rephaim.
14 At that time David was in the refuge, and there was a garrison of Philistines in Bethlehem.	14 David was then in the stronghold, and there was a Philistine garrison in Bethlehem.
15 Now David had a strong craving and said, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem!"	15 Longingly David said, 'If only someone would fetch me a drink of water from the wel that stands bythe gate at Bethlehem!'
16 So the Three warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem. But when they brought it to David he refused to drink it, and instead poured it out to the LORD,	16 At this, the three champions, forcing their way through the Philistine camp, drew water from the welthat stands by the gate of Bethlehem and, taking it away, presented it to David. He, however, would not drinkany of it, but poured it out as a libation to Yahweh.
17 saying: "The LORD forbid that I do this! Can I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?" So he refused to drink it.	17 'Yahweh preserve me', he said, 'from doing such a thing! This is the blood of men who went at risk oftheir lives.' That was why he would not drink. Such were the deeds of these three champions.
18 Abishai, brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was at the head of the Thirty. It was he who brandished his spear over three hundred slain. He was listed among the Thirty	18 Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was leader of the Thirty. It was he who brandished hisspear over three hundred men whom he had kil ed, winning himself a name among the Thirty.
19 and commanded greater respect than the Thirty, becoming their leader. However, he did not attain to the Three.	19 He was a most il ustrious member of the Thirty and became their captain, but he was not equal to theThree.
20 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a stalwart from Kabzeel, was a man of great achievements. It was he who slew the two lions in Moab. He also went down and killed the lion in the cistern at the time of the snow.	20 Benaiah of Kabzeel was the son of Jehoiada and hero of many exploits. He it was who slaughteredtwo formidable Moabites and, one snowy day, climbed down and slaughtered the lion in the storage-wel .
21 It was he, too, who slew an Egyptian of large stature. Although the Egyptian was armed with a spear, he went against him with a club and wrested the spear from the Egyptian's hand, then killed him with his own spear.	21 He also slaughtered an Egyptian of great stature. The Egyptian was armed with a spear, but he tookhim on with a staff, tore the spear from the Egyptian's hand and kil ed the man with it.
22 Such were the deeds performed by Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. He was listed among the Thirty warriors	22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, winning him a name among the thirty champions.
23 and commanded greater respect than the Thirty. However, he did not attain to the Three. David put him in command of his bodyguard.	23 He was a most il ustrious member of the Thirty, but he was not equal to the Three. David put him incommand of his bodyguard.
24 Asahel, brother of Joab. . . .Among the Thirty were: Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;	24 Asahel brother of Joab was one of the Thirty; Elhanan son of Dodo, of Bethlehem;
25 Shammah from En-harod; Elika from En-harod;	25 Shammah of Harod; Elika of Harod;
26 Helez from Beth-pelet; Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa;	26 Helez of Beth-Pelet; Ira son of Ikkesh, of Tekoa;
27 Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai from Hushah;	27 Abiezer of Anathoth; Sibbecai of Hushah;
28 Zalmon from Ahoh; Maharai from Netophah;	28 Zalmon of Ahoh; Maharai of Netophah;
29 Heled, son of Baanah, from Netophah; Ittai, son of Ribai, from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;	29 Heled son of Baanah, of Netophah; Ittai son of Ribai, of Gibeah in Benjamin;
30 Benaiah from Pirathon; Hiddai from Nahale-gaash;	30 Benaiah of Pirathon; Hiddai of the Torrents of Gaash;
31 Abibaal from Beth-arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim;	31 Abibaal of Beth-ha-Arabah; Azmaveth of Bahurim;
32 Eliahba from Shaalbon; Jashen the Gunite; Jonathan,	32 Eliahba of Shaalbon; Jashen of Gimzo; Jonathan
33 son of Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam, son of Sharar the Hararite;	33 son of Shammah, of Harar; Ahiam son of Sharar, of Harar;
34 Eliphelet, son of Ahasbai, from Beth-maacah; Eliam, son of Ahithophel, from Gilo;	34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai, of Beth-Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel, of Gilo;
35 Hezrai from Carmel; Paarai the Arbite;	35 Hezro of Carmel; Paarai of Arab;
36 Igal, son of Nathan, from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;	36 Igal son of Nathan, of Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai from Beeroth, armor-bearer of Joab, son of Zeruiah;	37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai of Beeroth squire to Joab, son of Zeruiah;
38 Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir;	38 Ira of Jattir; Gareb of Jattir;
39 Uriah the Hittite-thirty-seven in all.	39 Uriah the Hittite- thirty-seven in al .