David’s Victories^(A)

18 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.

² David also defeated the Moabites,^(B) and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.

³ Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah,^(C) in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at^[a] the Euphrates River.^{(D) 4} David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung^(E) all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus^(F) came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. ⁶ He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

⁷ David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Tebah^[b] and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea,^(G) the pillars and various bronze articles.

⁹ When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, ¹⁰ he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.

¹¹ King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom^(H) and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.^(I)

¹² Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites^(J) in the Valley of Salt. ¹³ He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s Officials^(K)

¹⁴ David reigned^(L) over all Israel,^(M) doing what was just and right for all his people. ¹⁵ Joab^(N) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; ¹⁶ Zadok^(O) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek^[c](P) son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; ¹⁷ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;^(Q) and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

David Defeats the Ammonites^(R)

19 In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites^(S) died, and his son succeeded him as king. ² David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.

When David’s envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, ³ the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out^(T) the country and overthrow it?” ⁴ So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.

⁵ When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”

⁶ When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious^(U) to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents^[d] of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim,^[e] Aram Maakah and Zobah.^{(V) 7} They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maakah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba,^(W) while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.

⁸ On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. ⁹ The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

¹⁰ Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. ¹¹ He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai^(X) his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites. ¹² Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you. ¹³ Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

¹⁴ Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. ¹⁵ When the Ammonites realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophak the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

¹⁷ When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel^(Y) and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him. ¹⁸ But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army.

¹⁹ When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him.

So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.

The Capture of Rabbah^(Z)

20 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces. He laid waste the land of the Ammonites and went to Rabbah^(AA) and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and left it in ruins.^{(AB) 2} David took the crown from the head of their king^[f]—its weight was found to be a talent^[g] of gold, and it was set with precious stones—and it was placed on David’s head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city ³ and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes.^(AC) David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.

War With the Philistines^(AD)

⁴ In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines, at Gezer.^(AE) At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites,^(AF) and the Philistines were subjugated.

⁵ In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.^(AG)

⁶ In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. ⁷ When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

⁸ These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs^(A) of Solomon:^(B)

3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves^(A) to your own husbands^(B) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over^(C) without words by the behavior of their wives, ² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.^{(D) 4} Rather, it should be that of your inner self,^(E) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.^{(F) 5} For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God^(G) used to adorn themselves.^(H) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, ⁶ like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.^(I) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

⁷ Husbands,^(J) in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Suffering for Doing Good

⁸ Finally, all of you, be like-minded,^(K) be sympathetic, love one another,^(L) be compassionate and humble.^{(M) 9} Do not repay evil with evil^(N) or insult with insult.^(O) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,^(P) because to this^(Q) you were called^(R) so that you may inherit a blessing.^{(S) 10} For,

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?^{(U) 14} But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.^(V) “Do not fear their threats^[b]; do not be frightened.”^{[c](W) 15} But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer^(X) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope^(Y) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience,^(Z) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.^{(AA) 17} For it is better, if it is God’s will,^(AB) to suffer for doing good^(AC) than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(AD) for sins,^(AE) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(AF) He was put to death in the body^(AG) but made alive in the Spirit.^{(AH) 19} After being made alive,^[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(AI)— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently^(AJ) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.^(AK) In it only a few people, eight in all,^(AL) were saved^(AM) through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(AN) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(AO) toward God.^[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(AP) 22} who has gone into heaven^(AQ) and is at God’s right hand^(AR)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.^(AS)

Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,^(AT) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.^{(AU) 2} As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,^(AV) but rather for the will of God. ³ For you have spent enough time in the past^(AW) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.^{(AX) 4} They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.^{(AY) 5} But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(AZ) 6} For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,^(BA) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

⁷ The end of all things is near.^(BB) Therefore be alert and of sober mind^(BC) so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply,^(BD) because love covers over a multitude of sins.^{(BE) 9} Offer hospitality^(BF) to one another without grumbling.^{(BG) 10} Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,^(BH) as faithful^(BI) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.^(BJ) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,^(BK) so that in all things God may be praised^(BL) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(BM)

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you^(BN) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice^(BO) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,^(BP) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.^{(BQ) 14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,^(BR) you are blessed,^(BS) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.^{(BT) 17} For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;^(BU) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?^{(BV) 18} And,

¹⁹ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will^(BX) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

To the Elders and the Flock

5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder^(BY) and a witness^(BZ) of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:^{(CA) 2} Be shepherds of God’s flock^(CB) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;^(CC) not pursuing dishonest gain,^(CD) but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over^(CE) those entrusted to you, but being examples^(CF) to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd^(CG) appears, you will receive the crown of glory^(CH) that will never fade away.^(CI)

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves^(CJ) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility^(CK) toward one another, because,

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.^{(CM) 7} Cast all your anxiety on him^(CN) because he cares for you.^(CO)

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind.^(CP) Your enemy the devil prowls around^(CQ) like a roaring lion^(CR) looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him,^(CS) standing firm in the faith,^(CT) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.^(CU)

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you^(CV) to his eternal glory^(CW) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,^(CX) will himself restore you and make you strong,^(CY) firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(CZ)

Final Greetings

¹² With the help of Silas,^[h](DA) whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly,^(DB) encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.^(DC)

¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.^{(DD) 14} Greet one another with a kiss of love.^(DE)

Peace^(DF) to all of you who are in Christ.