New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man whom God exalted, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the favorite of 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 spirit of the Lord speaks through me, his word is upon my tongue.
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God's Spirit spoke through me, his words took shape on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: One who rules over people justly, ruling 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 morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land
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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 Is not my house like this with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?
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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 the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be picked up with the hand;
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But the devil's henchmen are like thorns culled and piled as trash;
7 to touch them one uses an iron bar or the shaft of a spear. And they are entirely consumed in fire 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 the warriors whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the Three; he wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.
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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 to him among the three warriors was Eleazar son of Dodo son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle. The Israelites withdrew,
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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. He struck down the Philistines until his arm grew weary, though his hand clung to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the people came back to him—but only to strip 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 to him was Shammah son of Agee, the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the army 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 he took his stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the Lord brought about 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 Towards the beginning of harvest three of the thirty chiefs went down to join David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
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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 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem
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While David was holed up in the Cave, the Philistines had their base camp in Bethlehem
15 David said longingly, "O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!"
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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 Then the three warriors broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he 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 for he said, "The Lord forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things.
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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 Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Thirty. With his spear he fought against three hundred men and killed them, and won a name beside 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 renowned of the Thirty, and became their commander; but he did not attain to 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 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant warrior from Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he struck down two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen.
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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 And he killed an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but Benaiah went against him with a staff, snatched 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 Such were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and won a name beside 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 renowned among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David put him in charge of his 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 brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem;
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"The Thirty" consisted of: Asahel brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem;
25 Shammah of Harod; Elika of Harod;
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Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
26 Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa;
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Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
27 Abiezer of Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
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Abiezer the Anathothite; Sibbecai the Hushathite;
28 Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai of Netophah;
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Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
29 Heleb son of Baanah of Netophah; Ittai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjaminites;
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Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;
30 Benaiah of Pirathon; Hiddai of the torrents of Gaash;
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Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the badlands of Gaash;
31 Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth of Bahurim;
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Abi-Albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32 Eliahba of Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen: Jonathan
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Eliahba the Shaalbonite; Jashen the Gizonite;
33 son of Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
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Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Urite;
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai of Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
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Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hezro of Carmel; Paarai the Arbite;
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Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igal son of Nathan of Zobah; Bani the Gadite
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Igal son of Nathan, commander of the army of Hagrites
37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;
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Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, weapon bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;
38 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite
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Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite
39 Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.
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Uriah the Hittite. Thirty-seven, all told.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.