David’s Last Song

23 Now these are the last words of David.

David the son of Jesse declares,
(A)The man who was raised on high,
(B)The anointed of the God of Jacob
And the sweet psalmist of Israel, declares,
(C)The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me,
And His word was on my tongue.
The God of Israel said it;
(D)The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
(E)He who rules over mankind righteously,
(F)Who rules in the fear of God,
(G)Is like the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
When the fresh grass springs out of the earth
From sunshine after rain.’
Is my house not indeed so with God?
For (H)He has made an everlasting covenant with me,
Properly ordered in all things, and secured;
For will He not indeed make
All my salvation and all my delight grow?
(I)But the worthless, every one of them, are like scattered thorns,
Because they cannot be taken in hand;
Instead, the man who touches them
Must be [a]armed with iron and the shaft of a spear,
And (J)they will be completely burned with fire in their [b]place.”

David’s Mighty Men

(K)These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the [c]captains; he was called Adino the Eznite because of eight hundred who were killed by him at one time. And after him was Eleazar the son of (L)Dodo the (M)Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had [d]withdrawn. 10 (N)He rose up and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and [e]it clung to the sword, and (O)the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder the dead.

11 Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee, a (P)Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered [f]into an army where there was a plot of land full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it, and struck the Philistines; and (Q)the Lord brought about a great victory.

13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time to the (R)cave of Adullam, while the army of the Philistines was camping in (S)the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then (T)in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And (U)David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” 16 (V)So the three mighty men forced their way into the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and carried it and brought it to David. Yet he would not drink it, but (W)poured it out as an offering to the Lord; 17 and he said, “Far be it from me, Lord, that I would do this! (X)Should I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

18 Now (Y)Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was (Z)chief of the [g]thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred [h]and killed them, and had a name [i]as well as the three. 19 He was the most honored among the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the reputation of the three.

20 Then (AA)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of (AB)Kabzeel, who had done great deeds, [j]killed the [k]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he [l]killed an Egyptian, [m]an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things (AC)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name [n]as well as the three mighty men. 23 He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain the reputation of the three. And David appointed him over his bodyguard.

24 (AD)Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty; and there was Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 (AE)Shammah the (AF)Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the (AG)Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the (AH)Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the (AI)Netophathite, 29 (AJ)Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of (AK)Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah a (AL)Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of (AM)Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the (AN)Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the (AO)Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 (AP)Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of (AQ)the Maacathite, (AR)Eliam the son of (AS)Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 (AT)Hezro the (AU)Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of (AV)Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the (AW)Beerothite, armor bearers of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the (AX)Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 and (AY)Uriah the Hittite; thirty-seven in all.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:7 Lit filled
  2. 2 Samuel 23:7 Lit sitting
  3. 2 Samuel 23:8 Or three
  4. 2 Samuel 23:9 Lit gone up
  5. 2 Samuel 23:10 Lit his hand
  6. 2 Samuel 23:11 Or possibly, at Lehi
  7. 2 Samuel 23:18 As in two Heb mss and Syriac; MT three
  8. 2 Samuel 23:18 Lit slain ones
  9. 2 Samuel 23:18 Lit among the
  10. 2 Samuel 23:20 Lit struck
  11. 2 Samuel 23:20 Or two warriors of Moab
  12. 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit struck
  13. 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit a man of appearance
  14. 2 Samuel 23:22 Lit among the

Ebigambo ebya Dawudi eby’Enkomerero

23 (A)Bino bye bigambo ebya Dawudi, mutabani wa Yese, eby’enkomerero:

ebigambo eby’omusajja eyagulumizibwa,
    Ali Waggulu ennyo,
Katonda wa Yakobo gwe yafukako amafuta,
    omuyimbi wa Zabbuli za Isirayiri:

(B)“Omwoyo wa Mukama yayogerera mu nze,
    ekigambo kye kyali mu kamwa kange.
(C)Katonda wa Isirayiri yayogera,
    olwazi lwa Isirayiri yaŋŋamba nti,
‘Omuntu bw’afuga n’obutuukirivu,
    n’afugira mu kutya Katonda,
(D)ali ng’ekitangaala eky’oku makya,
    enjuba ng’evaayo ku ggulu nga tekuli bire,
obudde nga butangaala oluvannyuma lw’enkuba okukya
    ereetera omuddo okuvaayo mu ttaka.’
(E)Ennyumba yange tetuukiridde mu maaso ga Katonda?
    Teyalagaana nange endagaano ey’enkalakkalira,
    n’agiteekateeka era n’aginyweza mu buli nsonga?
Ekimulobera okumpa omukisa,
    n’okuddamu buli kye mmusaba, kiki?
(F)Naye abatatya Katonda baliba nga amaggwa agasuulibwa wa bbali,
    kizibu okugakwata n’engalo.
Buli agakwatako kimugwanira okukozesa ekyuma
    oba olunyago lw’effumu,
    era gookerwa awo omuliro we bagakuŋŋaanyirizza.”

Abasajja ba Dawudi ab’Amaanyi

Gano ge mannya ag’abasajja ba Dawudi abalwanyi ab’amaanyi be yalina: Yosebu-Basusebesi Omutakemoni eyali omukulu wa bazira abasatu ab’oku ntikko; yatta abasajja lunaana mu lulumbagana lumu.

(G)Eyamuddiriranga ye yali Eriyazaali mutabani wa Dodayi Omwakowa. Yali ne Dawudi bwe baasoomooza Abafirisuuti abaali bakuŋŋaanye okulwana. Abasajja ba Isirayiri baali bazze ennyuma, 10 naye ye nayimirira ku bubwe n’atta Abafirisuuti, n’omukono gwe ne gukoowa, ne gusanyalalira ku kitala. Mukama n’abawa obuwanguzi obw’amaanyi olunaku olwo, abaserikale ne baddayo eri Eriyazaali okunyaga ebintu byabo abattibwa.

11 Owookusatu ye yali Samma mutabani wa Agee Omukalali. Abafirisuuti bwe baakuŋŋaanira mu musiri ogw’ebijanjaalo, abasajja ba Isirayiri ne babadduka, 12 Samma yayimirira wakati mu musiri, n’agulwanirira, era n’atta Abafirisuuti. Mukama n’awa Abayisirayiri obuwanguzi obw’amaanyi.

13 (H)Mu kiseera eky’okukungula, basatu ku bakungu amakumi asatu ne bagenda eri Dawudi mu mpuku eya Adulamu, ekibinja ky’Abafirisuuti nga basiisidde mu kiwonvu Lefayimu. 14 (I)Mu kiseera ekyo Dawudi yali mu kigo, n’olusiisira lw’Abafirisuuti nga luli mu Besirekemu. 15 Dawudi n’alumwa ennyonta, n’ayogera nti, “Waliwo omuntu ayinza okunsenera amazzi okuva mu luzzi oluliraanye wankaaki wa Besirekemu?” 16 (J)Awo abasajja be abazira abasatu ne bawaguza mu nkambi ey’Abafirisuuti, ne basena amazzi okuva mu luzzi lwa Besirekemu olwali luliraanye wankaaki, ne bagatwalira Dawudi. 17 (K)Naye mu kifo eky’okuganywa n’agayiwayo eri Mukama. N’ayogera nti, “Kikafuuwe, Ayi Mukama Katonda, nze okukola ekyo. Nnyinza ntya okunywa omusaayi ogw’abasajja abawaddeyo obulamu bwabwe?” Bw’atyo n’ataganywa.

Ebyo bye bimu ku bintu abasajja abo abasatu abazira bye baakola.

18 (L)Waaliwo ne Abisaayi muganda wa Yowaabu, mutabani wa Zeruyiya, naye nga mukulu w’abasajja amakumi asatu. Yayimusiza effumu lye eri abasajja ebikumi bisatu n’abatta, ne yeekolera erinnya okwenkanankana abasatu. 19 N’aba wa kitiibwa nnyo mu bali amakumi asatu newaakubadde nga teyatuuka ku ssa ery’abali abasatu.

20 (M)Ne Benaya mutabani wa Yekoyaada ow’e Kabuzeeri yali musajja mulwanyi nnyo eyakola ebyobuzira ebikulu. Yatta babiri ku basajja abazira aba Mowaabu, ate n’aserengeta ne mu bunnya n’atta empologoma mu kiseera eky’obutiti. 21 N’atta Omumisiri omunene ennyo. Newaakubadde ng’Omumisiri yalina effumu mu mukono gwe, Benaya ye ng’alina muggo; yamunyagako effumu lye, n’alimuttisa. 22 Ebyo bye byobuzira Benaya mutabani wa Yekoyaada bye yakola, era naye n’ayatiikirira ng’abasajja bali abasatu abazira. 23 N’aweebwa ekitiibwa mu makumi asatu, newaakubadde nga teyatuuka ku ssa ery’abasatu. Dawudi n’amufuula omukulu w’abambowa.

24 (N)Mu makumi asatu mwe mwali:

Asakeri muganda wa Yowaabu,

Erukanani mutabani wa Dodo ow’e Besirekemu,

25 (O)Samma Omukalodi,

Erika Omukalodi,

26 (P)Kerezi Omupaluti,

Ira mutabani wa Ikkesi Omutekowa,

27 (Q)Abiyezeeri Omwanasosi,

Mebunnayi Omukusasi,

28 (R)Zalumoni Omwakowa,

Makalayi Omunetofa,

29 (S)Kerebu mutabani wa Baana Omunetofa,

Ittayi mutabani wa Libayi ow’e Gibea eky’e Benyamini,

30 (T)Benaya Omupirasoni,

Kiddayi ow’oku bugga obw’e Gaasi,

31 (U)Abi-Aluboni Omwalubasi,

ne Azumavesi Omubalukumi,

32 ne Eriyaba Omusaaluboni,

batabani ba Yaseni, Yonasaani,

33 ne Samma Omukalali,

Akiyamu mutabani wa Salali Omwalali,

34 (V)Erifereti mutabani wa Akasubayi Omumaakasi,

Eriyaamu mutabani wa Akisoferi Omugiro,

35 (W)Kezulo Omukalumeeri,

Paalayi Omwalubi,

36 (X)Igali mutabani wa Nasani ow’e Zoba,

Bani Omugaadi,

37 Zereki Omwamoni,

Nakalayi Omubeerosi, eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bya Yowaabu mutabani wa Zeruyiya,

38 (Y)Ira Omuyisuli,

Galebu Omuyisuli,

39 (Z)ne Uliya Omukiiti.

Bonna awamu baali amakumi asatu mu musanvu.