1These are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, the man who was lifted up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet singer of Israel said:
2"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me, and his word was on my tongue."
3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'The one who rules over people must be just, ruling in the fear of God.'
4He will be like the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds; like the tender grass that springs out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
5Though my house is not so with God, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, set out in all things, and sure. This is all my salvation, and all my desire, though he does not make it grow.
6But the sons of Belial will all be like thorns thrown away, because they cannot be picked up by hand.
7"The man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear. They will be burned up completely with fire on the spot."
8These are the names of the mighty men David had: the Tachmonite who sat in the seat, chief among the captains. He was Adino the Eznite. He lifted up his spear against eight hundred men, and killed them all at one time.
9After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David. They defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had gone away.
10He stood up and struck down the Philistines until his hand was tired, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The people came back after him only to take the spoil.
11After him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop, where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. The people fled from the Philistines.
12But he took his stand in the middle of that ground and defended it, and killed the Philistines. The LORD brought about a great victory.
13Three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time, to the cave of Adullam. The troop of the Philistines was camped in the valley of Rephaim.
15David longed for water, and said, "Oh that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, the one by the gate."
16So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine army, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem by the gate. They took it and brought it to David. But he would not drink it. He poured it out to the LORD,
17and said, "Far be it from me, LORD, to do this. Is this not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" So he would not drink it. These are the things the three mighty men did.
18Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and he had a name among the three.
19Was he not the most honoured of the three? So he was their captain. But he did not reach the first three.
20Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a brave man of Kabzeel, had done many deeds. He killed two lion-like men of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.
21He killed an Egyptian, a fine-looking man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff. He pulled the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.
22These are the things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and he had a name among the three mighty men.
23He was more honoured than the thirty, but he did not reach the first three. And David put him in charge of his guard.
25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
31Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armour-bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
39Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.