Common English Bible CEB
The Message Bible MSG
1 These are David's last words: This is the declaration of Jesse's son David, the declaration of a man raised high, a man anointed by the God of Jacob, a man favored by the strong one of Israel.
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These are David's last words: The voice of the son of Jesse, the voice of the man God took to the top, Whom the God of Jacob made king, and Israel's most popular singer!
2 The LORD's spirit speaks through me; his word is on my tongue.
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God's Spirit spoke through me, his words took shape on my tongue.
3 Israel's God has spoken, Israel's rock said to me: "Whoever rules rightly over people, whoever rules in the fear of God,
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The God of Israel spoke to me, Israel's Rock-Mountain said, "Whoever governs fairly and well, who rules in the Fear-of-God,
4 is like the light of sunrise on a morning with no clouds, like the bright gleam after the rain that brings grass from the ground."
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Is like first light at daybreak without a cloud in the sky, Like green grass carpeting earth, glistening under fresh rain.
5 Yes, my house is this way with God! He has made an eternal covenant with me, laid out and secure in every detail. Yes, he provides every one of my victories and brings my every desire to pass.
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And this is just how my regime has been, for God guaranteed his covenant with me, Spelled it out plainly and kept every promised word - My entire salvation, my every desire.
6 But despicable people are like thorns, all of them good for nothing, because they can't be carried by hand.
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But the devil's henchmen are like thorns culled and piled as trash;
7 No one can touch them, except with iron bar or the shaft of a spear. They must be burned up with fire right on the spot!
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Better not try to touch them; keep your distance with a rake or hoe. They'll make a glorious bonfire!
8 These are the names of David's warriors: Jeshbaal from Hachmon was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against eight hundred, killing them on a single occasion.
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This is the listing of David's top men. Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite. He was chief of the Three. He once put his spear to work against eight hundred - killed them all in a day.
9 Next in command was Eleazar, Dodo's son and Ahohi's grandson. He was among the three warriors with David when they insulted the Philistines who had gathered there for battle. The Israelites retreated,
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Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite was the next of the elite Three. He was with David when the Philistines poked fun at them at Pas Dammim. When the Philistines drew up for battle, Israel retreated.
10 but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was weary and stuck to the sword. But the LORD accomplished a great victory that day. The troops then returned to Eleazar, but only to plunder the dead.
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But Eleazar stood his ground and killed Philistines right and left until he was exhausted - but he never let go of his sword! A big win for God that day. The army then rejoined Eleazar, but all there was left to do was the clean-up.
11 Next in command was Agee's son Shammah, who was from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a plot of land full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines,
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Shammah son of Agee the Hararite was the third of the Three. The Philistines had mustered for battle at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils. Israel fled before the Philistines
12 but Shammah took a position in the middle of the plot, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. The LORD accomplished a great victory.
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, but Shammah took his stand at the center of the field, successfully defended it, and routed the Philistines. Another great victory for God!
13 At harvesttime, three of the thirty chiefs went down and joined David at the fortress of Adullam, while a force of Philistines were camped in the Rephaim Valley.
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One day during harvest, the Three parted from the Thirty and joined David at the Cave of Adullam. A squad of Philistines had set up camp in the Valley of Rephaim.
14 At that time, David was in the fortress, and a Philistine fort was in Bethlehem.
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While David was holed up in the Cave, the Philistines had their base camp in Bethlehem
15 David had a craving and said, "If only someone could give me a drink of water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem."
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David had a sudden craving and said, "Would I ever like a drink of water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem!"
16 So the three warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it and poured it out to the LORD.
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So the Three penetrated the Philistine lines, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David wouldn't drink it; he poured it out as an offering to God,
17 "The LORD forbid that I should do that," he said. "Isn't this the blood of men who risked their lives?" So he refused to drink it. These were the kinds of things the three warriors did.
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saying, "There is no way, God, that I'll drink this! This isn't mere water, it's their life-blood - they risked their very lives to bring it!" So David refused to drink it. This is the sort of thing that the Three did.
18 Now Zeruiah's son Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Thirty. He raised his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and made a name for himself along with the Three.
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Abishai brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah was the head of the Thirty. He once got credit for killing three hundred with his spear, but he was never named in the same breath as the Three.
19 He was the most famous of the Thirty. He became their commander, but he wasn't among the Three.
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He was the most respected of the Thirty and was their captain, but never got included among the Three
20 Jehoiada's son Benaiah was a hero from Kabzeel who performed great deeds. He killed the two sons of Ariel from Moab. He once went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day.
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Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a vigorous man who accomplished a great deal. He once killed two lion cubs in Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he climbed down into a pit and killed a lion.
21 He also killed a giant Egyptian who had a spear in his hand. Benaiah went against him armed with a staff. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.
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Another time he killed a formidable Egyptian. The Egyptian was armed with a spear and Benaiah went against him with nothing but a walking stick; he seized the spear from his grip and killed him with his own spear
22 These were the kinds of things Jehoiada's son Benaiah did. He made a name for himself along with the three warriors.
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These are the things that Benaiah son of Jehoiada is famous for. But neither did he ever get ranked with the Three.
23 He was famous among the Thirty, but he didn't become one of the Three. David placed him in command of his own bodyguard.
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He was held in greatest respect among the Thirty, but he never got included with the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24 Among the Thirty were: Asahel, Joab's brother; Elhanan, Dodo's son from Bethlehem;
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"The Thirty" consisted of: Asahel brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem;
25 Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod;
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Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
26 Helez from Pelet; Ira, Ikkesh's son from Tekoa;
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Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
27 Abiezer from Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
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Abiezer the Anathothite; Sibbecai the Hushathite;
28 Zalmon from Ahoh; Maharai from Netophah;
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Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
29 Heleb, Baanah's son from Netophah; Ittai, Ribai's son from Gibeah in Benjamin;
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Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;
30 Benaiah from Pirathon; Hiddai from the Gaash ravines;
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Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the badlands of Gaash;
31 Abi-albon from the desert plain; Azmaveth from Bahurim;
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Abi-Albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32 Eliahba from Shaalbon; Jashen the Gizonite; Jonathan,
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Eliahba the Shaalbonite; Jashen the Gizonite;
33 Shammah's son from Harar; Ahiam, Sharar's son from Harar;
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Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Urite;
34 Eliphelet, Ahasbai's son from Maacah; Eliam, Ahithophel's son from Giloh;
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Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hezro from Carmel; Paarai from Erab;
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Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igal, Nathan's son from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
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Igal son of Nathan, commander of the army of Hagrites
37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai from Beeroth, and the armor-bearer for Zeruiah's son Joab;
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Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, weapon bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;
38 Ira from Ither; Gaeb from Ither;
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Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite
39 and Uriah the Hittite— thirty-seven in all.
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Uriah the Hittite. Thirty-seven, all told.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.