2 Samuel 5

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 All the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: "Here we are, your bone and your flesh.	1 And all the tribes of Israel went to David in Hebron, saying: “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
2 In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.'"	2 Moreover, yesterday and the day before, when Saul was king over us, you were the one leading out and leading back Israel. Then the Lord said to you, ‘You shall pasture my people Israel, and you shall be the leader over Israel.’ ”
3 When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel.	3 Also, the elders of Israel went to the king at Hebron, and king David struck a pact with them at Hebron in the sight of the Lord. And they anointed David as king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years:	4 David was a son of thirty years, when he had begun to reign, and he reigned for forty years.
5 seven years and six months in Hebron over Judah, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah.	5 In Hebron, he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months. Then in Jerusalem, he reigned for thirty-three years over all of Israel and Judah.
6 Then the king and his men set out for Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the region. David was told, "You cannot enter here: the blind and the lame will drive you away!" which was their way of saying, "David cannot enter here."	6 And the king, and all the men who were with him, went away to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. And it was said to David by them, “You shall not enter here, unless you will take away the blind and the lame, who say, ‘David shall not enter here.’ ”
7 But David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David.	7 But David seized the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.
8 On that day David said: "All who wish to attack the Jebusites must strike at them through the water shaft. The lame and the blind shall be the personal enemies of David." That is why it is said, "The blind and the lame shall not enter the palace."	8 For David had proposed, on that day, a reward to him who had struck the Jebusites and who had reached to the gutters of the rooftops, and who had taken away the blind and the lame that hated the soul of David. Therefore, it is said in the proverb, “The blind and the lame shall not enter into the temple.”
9 David then dwelt in the stronghold, which was called the City of David; he built up the area from Millo to the palace.	9 Then David lived in the stronghold, and he called it: the City of David. And he built it up on all sides, from Millo and inward.
10 David grew steadily more powerful, for the LORD of hosts was with him.	10 And he advanced, prospering and increasing, and the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
11 Hiram, king of Tyre, sent ambassadors to David; he furnished cedar wood, as well as carpenters and masons, who built a palace for David.	11 Also, Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, with cedar wood, and with builders of wood and builders of stone, in order to make walls. And they built a house for David.
12 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king of Israel and had exalted his rule for the sake of his people Israel.	12 And David knew that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom over his people Israel.
13 David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem after he had come from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to him in Jerusalem.	13 Then David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had arrived from Hebron. And other sons as well as daughters were born to David.
14 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,	14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,	15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg,
16 Elishama, Baaliada, and Eliphelet.	16 and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Elipheleth.
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they all took the field in search of him. On hearing this, David went down to the refuge.	17 Then the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel. And they all ascended, so that they might seek David. And when David had heard of it, he descended to a stronghold.
18 The Philistines came and overran the valley of Rephaim.	18 Now the Philistines, arriving, spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.
19 David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I attack the Philistines--will you deliver them into my grip?" The LORD replied to David, "Attack, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your grip."	19 And David consulted the Lord, saying: “Shall I ascend to the Philistines? And will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David: “Ascend. For I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”
20 David then went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated them. He said, "The LORD has scattered my enemies before me like waters that have broken free." That is why the place is called Baal-perazim.	20 Therefore, David went to Baal-perazim. And he struck them there. And he said, “The Lord has divided my enemies before me, just as the waters are divided.” Because of this, the name of that place was called Baal-perazim.
21 They abandoned their gods there, and David and his men carried them away.	21 And in that place they left behind their graven images, which David and his men took away.
22 But the Philistines came up again and overran the valley of Rephaim.	22 And the Philistines continued still, so that they ascended and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.
23 So David inquired of the LORD, who replied: "You must not attack frontally, but circle their rear and meet them before the mastic trees.	23 Then David consulted the Lord, “Shall I ascend against the Philistines, and will you deliver them into my hands?” And he responded: “You shall not ascend against them; instead, circle behind their back. And you shall come to them from the side opposite the balsam trees.
24 When you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mastic trees, act decisively, for the LORD will have gone forth before you to attack the camp of the Philistines."	24 And when you hear the sound of something going forth from the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall begin the battle. For then the Lord will go forth, before your face, so that he may strike the army of the Philistines.”
25 David obeyed the LORD'S command and routed the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer.	25 And so, David did just as the Lord had instructed him. And he struck down the Philistines, from Gibeon until you arrive at Gezer.