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23 Forsooth these be the last words, which David, the son of Jesse, said. (The words that) The man said, to whom it is ordained of Christ, of the God of Jacob, the noble psalm-maker of Israel; (These be the last words which David, the son of Jesse, said. The words that the man to whom it was ordained to be the anointed of the God of Jacob, the noble psalm-maker of Israel, yea, the last words that he said;)

The spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word by my tongue.

David said, God of Israel spake to me, the strong help of Israel, the just Lord of men, is Lord in the dread of God. (The God of Israel spoke, the Strong One of Israel said to me, The lord, or the leader, of men should be just, ruling in the fear of God.)

As the light of the morrowtide, when the sun riseth early, (and) is bright without clouds; and as an herb cometh forth of the earth by rains. (He is like the morning light, when the sun riseth early, and it is bright without clouds; and like a herb that cometh forth out of the ground after the rain.)

And mine house is not so great with God, that he should make with me everlasting covenant, steadfast and made strong in all things; for all mine health is of him, and all my will, that is, all my desire, goeth into him, and nothing is thereof, that maketh not fruit[a]. (And though my house is not so great before God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, steadfast and strong in all things; for all my salvation is from him, and all my desire is for him, and there is nothing of it, that maketh not fruit.)

Forsooth all trespassers shall be drawn out as thorns, that be not taken with hands. (And all trespassers shall be drawn out like thorns, which cannot be picked, or touched, by hand.)

And if any man will touch those, he shall be armed with iron, and with a (piece of) wood formed into a spear; and (then) the thorns shall be kindled, and shall be burnt till to nought.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:5 And this is done, when all thing that cometh forth of the will, either of advisement, is done into the glory of God.

David’s Last Words

23 These are the last words of David:

“The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,
    the utterance of the man exalted(A) by the Most High,
the man anointed(B) by the God of Jacob,
    the hero of Israel’s songs:

“The Spirit(C) of the Lord spoke through me;
    his word was on my tongue.
The God of Israel spoke,
    the Rock(D) of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over people in righteousness,(E)
    when he rules in the fear(F) of God,(G)
he is like the light(H) of morning(I) at sunrise(J)
    on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain(K)
    that brings grass from the earth.’

“If my house were not right with God,
    surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,(L)
    arranged and secured in every part;
surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
    and grant me my every desire.
But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,(M)
    which are not gathered with the hand.
Whoever touches thorns
    uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
    they are burned up where they lie.”

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