2 Samuel 23

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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:	1 These are the last words of David. Now David, the son of Jesse, the man to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob, the preeminent psalmist of Israel said:
2 The spirit of Yahweh speaks through me, his word is on my tongue;	2 “The Spirit of the Lord has spoken through me, and his word was spoken through my tongue.
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,	3 The God of Israel spoke to me, the Strong One of Israel spoke, the Ruler of men, the Just Ruler, in the fear of God,
4 is like the morning light at sunrise (on a cloudless morning) making the grass of the earth sparkle afterrain.	4 like the first light of the morning as the sun is rising, when a morning without clouds glows red, and like plants springing forth from the earth after a rainfall.
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?	5 But my house is not so great with God that he should undertake an eternal covenant with me, firm and fortified in all things. For he is the entirety of my salvation and the entirety of my will. And there is nothing of this which will not spring forth.
6 But men of Belial he rejects like thorns, for these are never taken up in the hand:	6 But all prevaricators shall be plucked out like thorns, yet they are not taken away by hands.
7 no one touches them except with a pitchfork or spear-shaft, and then only to burn them to nothing!	7 And if anyone wishes to touch them, he must be armed with iron and a wooden lance. And they shall be set ablaze and burned to nothing.”
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.	8 These are the names of the valiant of David. Sitting in the chair was the wisest leader among the three; he was like a very tender little worm in a tree, who killed eight hundred men in one attack.
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.	9 After him, there was Eleazar, the son of his paternal uncle, an Ahohite, who was among the three valiant men who were with David when they chastised the Philistines, and they were gathered together in battle there.
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.	10 And when the men of Israel had gone up, he himself stood fast and struck down the Philistines, until his hand grew weak and stiff with the sword. And the Lord wrought a great salvation on that day. And the people who had fled returned to take up the spoils of the slain.
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,	11 And after him, there was Shammah, the son of Agee, from Hara. And the Philistines gathered together at an outpost. For a field full of lentils was in that place. And when the people had fled from the face of the Philistines,
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.	12 he stood fast in the middle of the field, and it was protected by him. And he struck down the Philistines. And the Lord wrought a great salvation.
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.	13 And moreover, before this, the three who were leaders among the thirty descended and went to David at harvest time, in the cave of Adullam. But the camp of the Philistines was positioned in the Valley of the giants.
14 David was then in the stronghold, and there was a Philistine garrison in Bethlehem.	14 And David was in a stronghold. Moreover, there was a garrison of the Philistines at that time in Bethlehem.
15 Longingly David said, 'If only someone would fetch me a drink of water from the wel that stands bythe gate at Bethlehem!'	15 Then David desired, and he said, “If only someone would give me a drink of the water from the cistern, which is in Bethlehem beside the gate!”
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.	16 Therefore, the three valiant men burst into the encampment of the Philistines, and they drew water from the cistern of Bethlehem, which was beside the gate. And they brought it to David. Yet he was not willing to drink; instead, he poured it out to the Lord,
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.	17 saying: “May the Lord be gracious to me, so that I may not do this. Should I drink the blood of these men who have set out to the peril of their own lives?” Therefore, he was not willing to drink. These things were accomplished by these three robust men.
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.	18 Also Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was first among the three. It was he who lifted up his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed. And he was renowned among the three,
19 He was a most il ustrious member of the Thirty and became their captain, but he was not equal to theThree.	19 and he was the noblest of the three, and he was their leader. But at first he did not attain to the three.
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 .	20 And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, a very strong man of great deeds, was from Kabzeel. He slew the two lions of Moab, and he descended and slew a lion in the middle of a den, in the days of snow.
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.	21 He also killed an Egyptian who had a spear in his hand, a man worthy to behold. And yet he had gone down to him with only a staff. And he forced the spear from the hand of the Egyptian, and he killed him with his own spear.
22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, winning him a name among the thirty champions.	22 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, accomplished these things.
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.	23 And he was renowned among the three robust men, who were the most noble among the thirty. Yet truly, he did not attain to the three, until David made him his secret advisor.
24 Asahel brother of Joab was one of the Thirty; Elhanan son of Dodo, of Bethlehem;	24 Among the thirty were: Asahel, the brother of Joab, Elhanan, the son of his paternal uncle, from Bethlehem,
25 Shammah of Harod; Elika of Harod;	25 Shammah from Harod, Elika from Harod,
26 Helez of Beth-Pelet; Ira son of Ikkesh, of Tekoa;	26 Helez from Palti, Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa,
27 Abiezer of Anathoth; Sibbecai of Hushah;	27 Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai from Hushah,
28 Zalmon of Ahoh; Maharai of Netophah;	28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heled son of Baanah, of Netophah; Ittai son of Ribai, of Gibeah in Benjamin;	29 Heleb, the son of Baanah, also himself a Netophathite, Ittai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin,
30 Benaiah of Pirathon; Hiddai of the Torrents of Gaash;	30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the Torrent Gaash,
31 Abibaal of Beth-ha-Arabah; Azmaveth of Bahurim;	31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Beromi,
32 Eliahba of Shaalbon; Jashen of Gimzo; Jonathan	32 Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 son of Shammah, of Harar; Ahiam son of Sharar, of Harar;	33 Shammah from Orori, Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai, of Beth-Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel, of Gilo;	34 Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the son of Maacath, Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, the Gilonite,
35 Hezro of Carmel; Paarai of Arab;	35 Hezrai from Carmel, Paarai from Arbi,
36 Igal son of Nathan, of Zobah; Bani the Gadite;	36 Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah, Bani from Gad,
37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai of Beeroth squire to Joab, son of Zeruiah;	37 Zelek from Ammon, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira of Jattir; Gareb of Jattir;	38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb also an Ithrite,
39 Uriah the Hittite- thirty-seven in al .	39 Uriah the Hittite: altogether thirty seven