New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh.
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Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said, Truly, we are your bone and your flesh.
2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel."
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In the past when Saul was king over us, it was you who went at the head of Israel when they went out or came in: and the Lord said to you, You are to be the keeper of my people Israel and their ruler.
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
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So all the responsible men of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they put the holy oil on David and made him king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
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David was thirty years old when he became king, and he was king for forty years,
5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
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Ruling over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem, over all Israel and Judah, for thirty-three years.
6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, "You will not come in here, even the blind and the lame will turn you back"—thinking, "David cannot come in here."
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And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the people of the land: and they said to David, You will not come in here, but the blind and the feeble-footed will keep you out; for they said, David will not be able to come in here.
7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David.
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But David took the strong place of Zion, which is the town of David.
8 David had said on that day, "Whoever would strike down the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, those whom David hates." Therefore it is said, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."
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And that day David said, Whoever makes an attack on the Jebusites, let him go up by the water-pipe, and put to death all the blind and feeble-footed who are hated by David. And this is why they say, The blind and feeble-footed may not come into the house.
9 David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward.
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So David took the strong tower for his living-place, naming it the town of David. And David took in hand the building of the town all round, starting from the Millo.
10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
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And David became greater and greater; for the Lord, the God of armies, was with him.
11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees, and carpenters and masons who built David a house.
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And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent men to David, with cedar-trees and woodworkers and stoneworkers: and they made David a house.
12 David then perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
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And David saw that the Lord had made his position safe as king over Israel, and that he had made his kingdom great because of his people Israel.
13 In Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives; and more sons and daughters were born to David.
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And David took more women and wives in Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron: and he had more sons and daughters.
14 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
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These are the names of those whose birth took place in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon
15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
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And Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia
16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
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And Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.
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And when the Philistines had news that David had been made king over Israel, they all went up in search of David; and David, hearing of it, went down to the strong place.
18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.
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And when the Philistines came, they went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.
19 David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" The Lord said to David, "Go up; for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand."
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And David, desiring directions from the Lord, said, Am I to go up against the Philistines? will you give them up into my hands? And the Lord said, Go up, for I will certainly give up the Philistines into your hands.
20 So David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. He said, "The Lord has burst forth against my enemies before me, like a bursting flood." Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim.
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And David went to Baal-perazim, and overcame them there; and he said, The Lord has let the forces fighting against me be broken before me as a wall is broken by rushing waters. So that place was named Baal-perazim.
21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
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And the Philistines, when they went in flight, did not take their images with them, and David and his men took them away.
22 Once again the Philistines came up, and were spread out in the valley of Rephaim.
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And the Philistines came up again, and went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.
23 When David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come upon them opposite the balsam trees.
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And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle round them from the back and come on them opposite the spice-trees.
24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then be on the alert; for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines."
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Then at the sound of footsteps in the tops of the trees, go forward quickly, for the Lord has gone out before you to overcome the army of the Philistines.
25 David did just as the Lord had commanded him; and he struck down the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.
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And David did as the Lord had said; and he overcame the Philistines, attacking them from Gibeon to near Gezer.
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.