1. These are the last wordsof David the son of Jesse.The God of Jacob chose Davidand made him a great king.The Mighty God of Israelloved him.When God told him to speak,David said:
2. The Spirit of the Lordhas told me what to say.
3. Our Mighty Rock,the God of Jacob, told me,“A ruler who obeys Godand does right
4. is like the sunriseon a cloudless day,or like rain that sparkleson the grass.”
5. I have ruled this way,and God will never breakhis promise to me.God's promise is completeand unchanging;he will always help meand give me what I hope for.
6. But evil people are pulled uplike thorn bushes.They are not dug up by hand,
7. but with a sharp spearand are burnt on the spot.
8. These are the names of David's warriors:Ishbosheth the son of Hachmon was the leader of the Three Warriors. In one battle, he killed eight hundred men with his spear.
9. The next one of the Three Warriors was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite. One time when the Philistines were at war with Israel, he and David dared the Philistines to fight them. Every one of the Israelite soldiers turned and ran,
22-23. Benaiah did these things. He never became one of the Three Warriors, but he was just as famous as they were and certainly just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. David made him the leader of his bodyguard.
24-39. Some of the Thirty Warriors were:Asahel the brother of JoabElhanan the son of Dodo from BethlehemShammah from HarodElika from HarodHelez the PaltiteIra the son of Ikkesh from TekoaAbiezer from AnathothMebunnai the HushathiteZalmon the AhohiteMaharai from NetophahHeleb the son of Baanah from NetophahIttai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the tribe of BenjaminBenaiah from PirathonHiddai from the streams on Mount GaashAbialbon from Beth-ArabahAzmaveth from BahurimEliahba from ShaalbonJashenJonathan the son of Shammah the HarariteAhiam the son of Sharar the HarariteEliphelet the son of Ahasbai from MaacahEliam the son of Ahithophel from GiloHezro from CarmelPaarai the ArbiteIgal the son of Nathan from ZobahBani the GaditeZelek from AmmonNaharai from Beeroth, who carried the weapons of Joab the son of ZeruiahIra the IthriteGareb the IthriteUriah the HittiteThere were thirty-seven in all.