1These are the last words of David. David son of Jesse says, the man who was highly honored says, the anointed one of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2“The Spirit of Yahweh spoke through me, and his word was on my tongue.
3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘A ruler over people who rules fairly, who rules with respect for God,
4will be like the morning light when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when tender grass sprouts from the earth, through clear shining after rain.'
5My family is certainly not like that with God, yet he has made an everlasting agreement with me, ordered and secure in every way. Indeed, it is my complete salvation and my entire desire, even though he doesn’t make it prosper.
6But all the wicked will be like thorns to be thrown away, because they cannot be picked up by hand.
7Instead, anyone who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear. They will be completely burned with fire right where they are.”
8These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb Basshebeth the Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; he was also called Adino the Eznite, who killed eight hundred men at one time.
9After him was Eleazar son of Dodai, son of an Ahohite. He was one of the three mighty warriors with David when they challenged the Philistines who had gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated.
10He rose up and struck down the Philistines until his hand was tired and stiffly stuck to his sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day, and the people only returned after him to collect the plunder.
11After him was Shammah son of Agee, a Hararite. The Philistines had gathered into a group in a field full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.
12But he stood in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. Yahweh brought about a great victory.
13Three of the thirty chief men went down during the harvest time to the cave of Adullam to David, while the Philistine army was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
14David was then in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was then in Bethlehem.
15David expressed a longing, saying, “Oh, if only someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
16The three mighty men broke through the Philistine army, drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and brought it to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to Yahweh.
17He said, “Far be it from me, Yahweh, to do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” So he would not drink it. These were the deeds of the three mighty men.
18Abishai, Joab’s brother, son of Zeruiah, was the chief of the three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and he was renowned among the three.
19Wasn’t he the most honored of the three? Therefore, he was made their captain. However, he was not counted among the top three.
20Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a brave man from Kabzeel, performed mighty deeds. He killed two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day.
21He killed a huge Egyptian, who had a spear in his hand. But Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear.
22Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these things and was renowned among the three mighty men.
23He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not reach the status of the top three. David put him in charge of his personal guard.
24Asahel, Joab’s brother, was one of the thirty. Others were Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;
25Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
26Helez the Paltite; Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa;
27Abiezer from Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
29Heleb, son of Baanah, from Netophah; Ittai, son of Ribai, from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;
30Benaiah a Pirathonite; Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;
31Abialbon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen, Jonathan;
33Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam, son of Sharar, the Ararite;
34Eliphelet, son of Ahasbai, the Maacathite; Eliam, son of Ahithophel, the Gilonite;
35Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
36Igal, son of Nathan, from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
37Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, who carried the armor for Joab, son of Zeruiah;
38Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;
39and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.