Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
The Message Bible MSG
1 Now these are David’s last words. David the son of Isai said: The man to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob, the excellent psalmist of Israel said:
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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 hath spoken by me and his word by my tongue.
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God's Spirit spoke through me, his words took shape on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said to me, the strong one of Israel spoke, the ruler of men, the just ruler 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 As the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, shineth in the morning without clouds, and as the grass springeth out of the earth by rain
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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 Neither is my house so great with God, that he should make with me an eternal covenant, firm in all things and assured. For he is all my salvation, and all my will: neither is there ought thereof that springeth not up.
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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 transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns: which are not taken away with hands.
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But the devil's henchmen are like thorns culled and piled as trash;
7 And if a man will touch them, he must be armed with iron and with the staff of a lance: but they shall be set on fire and burnt to nothing.
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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 valiant men of David: Jesbaham sitting in the chair was the wisest chief among the three, he was like the most tender little worm of the wood, who killed eight hundred men at one onset.
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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 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three valiant men that were with David when they defied the Philistines, and they were there gathered together to battle.
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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 And when the men of Israel were gone away, he stood and smote the Philistines till his hand was weary, and grew stiff with the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day: and the people that were fled away, returned to take spoils of them that were slain.
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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 And after him was Semma the son of Age of Arari. And the Philistines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field full of lentils. And when the people were fled from the face of 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 He stood in the midst of the field, and defended it, and defeated the Philistines: and the Lord gave 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 Moreover also before this the three who were princes among the thirty, went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of the giants.
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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 And David was then in a hold: and there was a garrison of the Philistines then in Bethlehem
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While David was holed up in the Cave, the Philistines had their base camp in Bethlehem
15 And David longed, and said: O that some man would get me a drink of the water out of the cistern, that is in Bethlehem, 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 And the three valiant men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and brought it to David: but he would not drink, but offered it 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 Saying: The Lord be merciful to me, that I may not do this: shall I drink the blood of these men that went, and the peril of their lives? therefore he would not drink. These things did these three mighty men.
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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 Abisai also the brother of Joab, the son of Sarvia, was chief among three: and he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew, and he was renowned among 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 And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three first he attained not
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He was the most respected of the Thirty and was their captain, but never got included among the Three
20 And Banaias the son of Joiada a most valiant man, of great deeds, of Cabseel: he slew the two lions of Moab, and he went down, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit, in the time of snow.
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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 slew an Egyptian, a man worthy to be a sight, having a spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a rod, and forced the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew 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 things did Banaias the son of Joiada.
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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 And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the most honourable among the thirty: but he attained not to the first three: and David made him of his privy council.
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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 Asael the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elehanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem.
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"The Thirty" consisted of: Asahel brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem;
25 Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harodi,
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Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
26 Heles of Phalti, Hira the son of Acces of Thecua,
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Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mobonnai of Husati,
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Abiezer the Anathothite; Sibbecai the Hushathite;
28 Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
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Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
29 Heled the son of Baana, also a Netophathite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin,
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Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;
30 Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas,
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Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the badlands of Gaash;
31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi,
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Abi-Albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32 Eliaba of Salaboni. The sons of Jassen, Jonathan,
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Eliahba the Shaalbonite; Jashen the Gizonite;
33 Semma of Orori, Aliam the son of Sarar the Arorite,
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Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Urite;
34 Eliphelet the son of Aasbai the son of Machati, Eliam the son of Achitophel the Gelonite,
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Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi,
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Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igaal the son of Nathan of Soba, Bonni of Gadi
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Igal son of Nathan, commander of the army of Hagrites
37 Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite, armourbearer of Joab the son of Sarvia,
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Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, weapon bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;
38 Ira the Jethrite, Gareb also a Jethrite
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Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite
39 Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven in all.
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Uriah the Hittite. Thirty-seven, all told.
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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.