2 Samuel 23

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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. 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 the LORD spoke through me; his word was 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 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 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 greensward sparkle after rain.'	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 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 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 the wicked are all like thorns to be cast away; they cannot be taken up by hand.	6 But all prevaricators shall be plucked out like thorns, yet they are not taken away by hands.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 At that time David was in the refuge, and there was a garrison of Philistines in Bethlehem.	14 And David was in a stronghold. Moreover, there was a garrison of the Philistines at that time 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 and commanded greater respect than the Thirty, becoming their leader. However, he did not attain to the Three.	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, 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 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 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 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 deeds performed by Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. He was listed among the Thirty warriors	22 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, accomplished these things.
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 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. . . .Among the Thirty were: Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;	24 Among the thirty were: Asahel, the brother of Joab, Elhanan, the son of his paternal uncle, from Bethlehem,
25 Shammah from En-harod; Elika from En-harod;	25 Shammah from Harod, Elika from Harod,
26 Helez from Beth-pelet; Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa;	26 Helez from Palti, Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa,
27 Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai from Hushah;	27 Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai from Hushah,
28 Zalmon from Ahoh; Maharai from Netophah;	28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heled, son of Baanah, from Netophah; Ittai, son of Ribai, from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;	29 Heleb, the son of Baanah, also himself a Netophathite, Ittai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin,
30 Benaiah from Pirathon; Hiddai from Nahale-gaash;	30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the Torrent Gaash,
31 Abibaal from Beth-arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim;	31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Beromi,
32 Eliahba from Shaalbon; Jashen the Gunite; Jonathan,	32 Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 son of Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam, son of Sharar the Hararite;	33 Shammah from Orori, Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet, son of Ahasbai, from Beth-maacah; Eliam, son of Ahithophel, from Gilo;	34 Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the son of Maacath, Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, the Gilonite,
35 Hezrai from Carmel; Paarai the Arbite;	35 Hezrai from Carmel, Paarai from Arbi,
36 Igal, son of Nathan, from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;	36 Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah, Bani from Gad,
37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai from Beeroth, armor-bearer of Joab, son of Zeruiah;	37 Zelek from Ammon, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir;	38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb also an Ithrite,
39 Uriah the Hittite-thirty-seven in all.	39 Uriah the Hittite: altogether thirty seven