1  Now these are the last words of David: The saying of David the son of Jesse, and the saying of the man raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet singer of Israel

1  And these are the last words of David. Faithful is David the son of Jessae, and faithful the man whom the Lord raised up to be the anointed of the God of Jacob, and beautiful are the psalms of Israel.

2Sm23:2  “The Spirit of the Lord has spoken through me, and his word was spoken through my tongue.

2  The spirit of YHWH spoke by me, and His word was upon my tongue.

2Sm23:3  The God of Israel spoke to me, the Strong One of Israel spoke, the Ruler of men, the Just Ruler, in the fear of God,

3  The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'Ruler over men shall be the righteous, even he that ruleth in the fear of God,

3  The God of Israel says, A watchman out of Israel spoke to me a parable: I said among men, How will ye strengthen the fear of the anointed?

2Sm23:4  like the first light of the morning as the sun is rising, when a morning without clouds glows red, and like plants springing forth from the earth after a rainfall.

4  And as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, a morning without clouds; when through clear shining after rain, the tender grass springeth out of the earth.'

2Sm23:5  But my house is not so great with God that he should undertake an eternal covenant with me, firm and fortified in all things. For he is the entirety of my salvation and the entirety of my will. And there is nothing of this which will not spring forth.

4  He is like the light of the morning when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds, before dawn, a morning free from rain which makes the grass to spring up.

5  For is not my house established with God? for an everlasting covenant He hath made with me, ordered in all things, and sure; for all my salvation, and all my desire, will he not make it to grow?

2Sm23:6  But all prevaricators shall be plucked out like thorns, yet they are not taken away by hands.

6  But the ungodly, they are as thorns thrust away, all of them, for they cannot be taken with the hand;

6  All these are as a thorn thrust forth, for they shall not be taken with the hand,

2Sm23:7  And if anyone wishes to touch them, he must be armed with iron and a wooden lance. And they shall be set ablaze and burned to nothing.”

7  But the man that toucheth them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

7  and a man shall not labour among them; and one shall have that which is fully armed with iron, and the staff of a spear, and he shall burn them with fire, and they shall be burnt in their shame.

2Sm23:8  These are the names of the valiant of David. Sitting in the chair was the wisest leader among the three; he was like a very tender little worm in a tree, who killed eight hundred men in one attack.

8  These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite; he lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

2Sm23:9  After him, there was Eleazar, the son of his paternal uncle, an Ahohite, who was among the three valiant men who were with David when they chastised the Philistines, and they were gathered together in battle there.

9  And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they jeoparded their lives against the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away;

2Sm23:10  And when the men of Israel had gone up, he himself stood fast and struck down the Philistines, until his hand grew weak and stiff with the sword. And the Lord wrought a great salvation on that day. And the people who had fled returned to take up the spoils of the slain.

9  Next to him was Eleazar, the cousin of Gadho, who went down with David and three other men when the Philistines defied them and were gathered there to battle; and when the men of Israel withdrew,

10  he stood firm, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand did cleave unto the sword; and YHWH wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

2Sm23:11  And after him, there was Shammah, the son of Agee, from Hara. And the Philistines gathered together at an outpost. For a field full of lentils was in that place. And when the people had fled from the face of the Philistines,

11  And after him was Shammah the son of Age the Ararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.

2Sm23:12  he stood fast in the middle of the field, and it was protected by him. And he struck down the Philistines. And the Lord wrought a great salvation.

11  And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee, from the king's mountain. When the Philistines were gathered together to plunder cattle where there was a piece of ground full of lentils and the people fled from the Philistines,

12  But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and YHWH wrought a great victory.

2Sm23:13  And moreover, before this, the three who were leaders among the thirty descended and went to David at harvest time, in the cave of Adullam. But the camp of the Philistines was positioned in the Valley of the giants.

13  And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

13  And three out of the thirty went down, and came to Cason to David, to the cave of Odollam; and there was an army of the Philistines, and they encamped in the valley of Raphain.

2Sm23:14  And David was in a stronghold. Moreover, there was a garrison of the Philistines at that time in Bethlehem.

14  And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.

2Sm23:15  Then David desired, and he said, “If only someone would give me a drink of the water from the cistern, which is in Bethlehem beside the gate!”

15  And David longed, and said: 'Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!'

15  And David longed, and said, Who will give me water to drink out of the well that is in Bethleem by the gate? now the band of the Philistines was then in Bethleem.

2Sm23:16  Therefore, the three valiant men burst into the encampment of the Philistines, and they drew water from the cistern of Bethlehem, which was beside the gate. And they brought it to David. Yet he was not willing to drink; instead, he poured it out to the Lord,

16  And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto YHWH.

2Sm23:17  saying: “May the Lord be gracious to me, so that I may not do this. Should I drink the blood of these men who have set out to the peril of their own lives?” Therefore, he was not willing to drink. These things were accomplished by these three robust men.

16  So the three valiant men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the great well which is in the city of Beth-lehem, and took it and brought it to David; but he would not drink of it, but poured it out before the LORD.

17  And he said: 'Be it far from me, O YHWH, that I should do this; shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?' therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

2Sm23:18  Also Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was first among the three. It was he who lifted up his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed. And he was renowned among the three,

17  And he said, Far be it from me, on account of the LORD, that I should do this; because these men went at the risk of their lives. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three valiant men.

18  And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three.

2Sm23:19  and he was the noblest of the three, and he was their leader. But at first he did not attain to the three.

19  He was most honourable of the three; therefore he was made their captain; howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

2Sm23:20  And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, a very strong man of great deeds, was from Kabzeel. He slew the two lions of Moab, and he descended and slew a lion in the middle of a den, in the days of snow.

19  And he was honored above the thirty men; therefore he became their chief and performed heroic deeds equal to thirty men.

20  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he smote the two altar- hearths of Moab; he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow;

20  And Banaeas the son of Jodae, he was abundant in mighty deeds, from Cabeseel, and he smote the two sons of Ariel of Moab: and he went down and smote a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

2Sm23:21  He also killed an Egyptian who had a spear in his hand, a man worthy to behold. And yet he had gone down to him with only a staff. And he forced the spear from the hand of the Egyptian, and he killed him with his own spear.

21  and he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man; and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

21  He smote an Egyptian, a wonderful man, and in the hand of the Egyptian was a spear as the side of a ladder; and he went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.

2Sm23:22  Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, accomplished these things.

22  These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.

2Sm23:23  And he was renowned among the three robust men, who were the most noble among the thirty. Yet truly, he did not attain to the three, until David made him his secret advisor.

23  He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

2Sm23:24  Among the thirty were: Asahel, the brother of Joab, Elhanan, the son of his paternal uncle, from Bethlehem,

23  He performed heroic deeds equal to thirty men. And David set him over his guard.

24  Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem;

24  Asael Joab’s brother; he was among the thirty. Eleanan son of Dudi his uncle in Bethleem.

2Sm23:25  Shammah from Harod, Elika from Harod,

25  Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite;

2Sm23:26  Helez from Palti, Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa,

25  Also Shammah of the king's mountain,

26  Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;

26  Selles the Kelothite: Iras the son of Isca the Thecoite.

2Sm23:27  Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai from Hushah,

27  Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite;

2Sm23:28  Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

28  Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite;

2Sm23:29  Heleb, the son of Baanah, also himself a Netophathite, Ittai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin,

28  Zalmon of the mount House, Mahar of Netophath,

29  Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin;

29  Esthai the son of Riba of Gabaeth, son of Benjamin the Ephrathite; Asmoth the Bardiamite; Emasu the Salabonite

2Sm23:30  Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the Torrent Gaash,

30  Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of Nahale-gaash;

30  Adroi of the brooks.

2Sm23:31  Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Beromi,

31  Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite;

31  Gadabiel son of the Arabothaeite.

2Sm23:32  Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

32  Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan;

32  the sons of Asan, Jonathan;

2Sm23:33  Shammah from Orori, Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Hararite,

33  Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite;

2Sm23:34  Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the son of Maacath, Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, the Gilonite,

33  Shammah of the mount of Olives, Ahiam the son of Ashdad of Edri,

34  Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;

2Sm23:35  Hezrai from Carmel, Paarai from Arbi,

35  Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite;

35  Asarai the Carmelite the son of Uraeoerchi.

2Sm23:36  Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah, Bani from Gad,

36  Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite;

36  Gaal the son of Nathana. The son of much valour, the son of Galaaddi. Elie the Ammanite.

2Sm23:37  Zelek from Ammon, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah,

37  Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armour-bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah;

37  Gelore the Bethorite, armour-bearer to Joab, son of Saruia.

2Sm23:38  Ira the Ithrite, Gareb also an Ithrite,

38  Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite;

2Sm23:39  Uriah the Hittite: altogether thirty seven

38  Hira the Ithrite, Arab of Lachish.

39  Uriah the Hittite. Thirty and seven in all.

2Sm24:1  And the fury of the Lord was again kindled against Israel, and he stirred up David among them, saying: “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

39  And Uriah the Hittite: the servants of David were thirty-seven in all.

24:1  And again the anger of YHWH was kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them, saying: 'Go, number Israel and Judah.'

1  And the Lord caused his anger to burn forth again in Israel, and Satan stirred up David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Juda.

2Sm24:2  And the king said to Joab, the leader of his army, “Travel through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, so that I may know their number.”

24:2  And the king said to Joab the captain of the host that was with him: 'Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.'

2Sm24:3  And Joab said to the king: “May the Lord your God increase your people, who are already great in number, and may he again increase them, one hundredfold, in the sight of my lord the king. But what does my lord the king intend for himself by this kind of thing?”

2  So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him. Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba and number the people, and bring to me the sum of the number of the people.

24:3  And Joab said unto the king: 'Now YHWH thy God add unto the people, how many soever they may be, a hundredfold, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it; but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?'

2Sm24:4  But the words of the king prevailed over the words of Joab and the leaders of the army. And so Joab and the leaders of the military departed from the face of the king, so that they might number the people of Israel.

24:4  Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

4  Nevertheless the word of the king prevailed against Joab an the captains of the host: And Joab and the captains of the host went out before the king to number the people of Israel.

2Sm24:5  And when they had passed across the Jordan, they arrived at Aroer, to the right of the city, which is in the Valley of Gad.

24:5  And they passed over the Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and unto Jazer;

2Sm24:6  And they continued on through Jazer, into Gilead, and to the lower land of Hodsi. And they arrived in the woodlands of Dan. And going around beside Sidon,

24:6  then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and round about to Zidon,

6  And they came to Galaad, and into the land of Thabason, which is Adasai, and they came to Danidan and Udan, and compassed Sidon.

2Sm24:7  they passed near the walls of Tyre, and near all the land of the Hivite and the Canaanite. And they went into the south of Judah, to Beersheba.

24:7  and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beer-sheba.

2Sm24:8  And having inspected the entire land, after nine months and twenty days, they were present in Jerusalem.

7  And when they had gone through the whole land, they came to the land of Judah in thirty-eight days. Then they came to Dan, and circled Zidon.

24:8  So when they had gone to and fro through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

8  And they compassed the whole land; and they arrived at Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

2Sm24:9  Then Joab gave the number of the description of the people to the king. And there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand able-bodied men, who might draw the sword; and of Judah, five hundred thousand fighting men.

24:9  And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto the king; and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

2Sm24:10  Then the heart of David struck him, after the people were numbered. And David said to the Lord: “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But I pray that you, O Lord, may take away the iniquity of your servant. For I have acted very foolishly.”

24:10  And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto YHWH: 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, O YHWH, put away, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.'

2Sm24:11  And David rose up in the morning, and the word of the Lord went to Gad, the prophet and seer of David, saying

24:11  And when David rose up in the morning, the word of YHWH came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying

11  And David rose early in the morning, and the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, the seer, saying, Go, and speak to David, saying,

2Sm24:12  “Go, and say to David: ‘Thus says the Lord: I present to you a choice of three things. Choose one of these, whichever you will, so that I may do it to you.’ ”

24:12  'Go and speak unto David: Thus saith YHWH: I lay upon thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.'

2Sm24:13  And when Gad had gone to David, he announced it to him, saying: “Either seven years of famine will come to you in your land; or you will flee for three months from your adversaries, and they will pursue you; or there will be a pestilence in your land for three days. Now then, deliberate, and see what word I may respond to him who sent me.”

24:13  So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him: 'Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thy foes while they pursue thee? or shall there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise thee, and consider what answer I shall return to Him that sent Me.'

2Sm24:14  Then David said to Gad: “I am in great anguish. But it is better that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are many) than into the hands of men.”

24:14  And David said unto Gad: 'I am in a great strait; let us fall now into the hand of YHWH; for His mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of man.'

2Sm24:15  And the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel, from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people, from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men.

14  Then David answered and said to the prophet Gad, I am greatly distressed; it is better for me to be punished by the hand of the LORD our God; for his mercies are great: let us not be punished by the hand of men.

24:15  So YHWH sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.

15  So David chose for himself the mortality: and they were the days of wheat-harvest; and the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from morning till noon, and the plague began among the people; and there died of the people from Dan even to Bersabee seventy thousand men.

2Sm24:16  And when the Angel of the Lord had extended his hand over Jerusalem, so that he might destroy it, the Lord took pity on the affliction. And he said to the Angel who was striking the people: “It is enough. Hold back your hand now.” And the Angel of the Lord was beside the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

24:16  And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, YHWH repented Him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people: 'It is enough; now stay thy hand.' And the angel of the YHWH was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

16  And the angel of the Lord stretched out his hand against Jerusalem to destroy it, and the Lord repented of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough now, withhold thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing-floor of Orna the Jebusite.

2Sm24:17  And when he had seen the Angel cutting down the people, David said to the Lord: “I am the one who sinned. I have acted iniquitously. These ones who are the sheep, what have they done? I beg you that your hand may be turned against me and against my father’s house.”

24:17  And David spoke unto YHWH when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said: 'Lo, I have sinned, and I have done iniquitously; but these sheep, what have they done? let Thy hand, I pray Thee, be against me, and against my father's house.'

2Sm24:18  Then Gad went to David on that day, and he said, “Ascend and construct an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

17  Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who smote the people, and said to the angel, I have sinned and I have given provocation; but these innocent sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand be against me, and against my father's house.

24:18  And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him: 'Go up, rear an altar unto YHWH in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.'

2Sm24:19  And David ascended in accord with the word of Gad, which the Lord had commanded to him.

18  And Gad the prophet came that day to David and said to him, Go up and build an altar to the LORD in the threshing floor of Aran the Jebusite.

24:19  And David went up according to the saying of Gad, as YHWH commanded.

2Sm24:20  And looking out, Araunah turned his attention to the king and his servants, passing toward him.

24:20  And Araunah looked forth, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him; and Araunah went out, and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.

2Sm24:21  And going out, he adored the king, lying prone with his face to the ground, and he said, “What is the reason that my lord the king has come to his servant?” And David said to him, “So as to purchase the threshing floor from you, and to build an altar to the Lord, and to quiet the plague that rages among the people.”

20  And when Aran the Jebusite turned back and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, Aran fell down and did obeisance to the king with his face to the ground.

24:21  And Araunah said: 'Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant?' And David said: 'To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar unto YHWH, that the plague may be stayed from the people.'

21  And Orna said, Why has my lord the king come to his servant? and David said, To buy of thee the threshing-floor, in order to build an altar to the Lord that the plague may be restrained from off the people.

2Sm24:22  And Araunah said to David: “May my lord the king offer and accept whatever is pleasing to him. You have oxen for a holocaust, and the cart and the yokes of the oxen to use for wood.”

24:22  And Araunah said unto David: 'Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him; behold the oxen for the burnt-offering, and the threshing-instruments and the furniture of the oxen for the wood.'

2Sm24:23  All these things Araunah gave, as a king to a king. And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept your vow.”

22  Then Aran said to David, Let my lord the king take what seems good to him; behold, here are the oxen for the burnt offering, and the ploughshare and the yokes for fuel.

24:23  All this did Araunah the king give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king: 'YHWH thy God accept thee.'

23  Orna gave all to the king: and Orna said to the king, The Lord thy God bless thee.

2Sm24:24  And in response, the king said to him: “It shall not be as you wish. Instead, I will purchase it from you at a price. For I will not offer to the Lord, my God, holocausts that cost nothing.” Therefore, David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

24:24  And the king said unto Araunah: 'Nay; but I will verily buy it of thee at a price; neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto YHWH my God which cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

2Sm24:25  And in that place, David built an altar to the Lord. And he offered holocausts and peace offerings. And the Lord was gracious to the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.

24:25  And David built there an altar unto YHWH, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. So the YHWH was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

25  And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered up whole-burnt-offerings and peace-offerings: and Solomon made an addition to the altar afterwards, for it was little at first. And the Lord hearkened to the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.