⁶ The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites^(A) who inhabited the land. The Jebusites had said to David, “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you” thinking, “David can’t get in here.”

⁷ Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.^{(B) 8} He said that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David.”^[a] For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the house.”^[b]

⁹ David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way around from the supporting terraces inward.

¹⁴ There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works against it. ¹⁵ Now a poor wise man was found in the city,^(A) and he delivered the city by his wisdom.^(B) Yet no one remembered that poor man. ¹⁶ And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength,^(C) but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”