David Anointed King of Israel

5 Then all the tribes of Israel ^(A)came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, ^(B)we are your bone and flesh. ² In times past, when Saul was king over us, ^(C)it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ^(D)‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince^[a] over Israel.’” ³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, ^(E)and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron ^(F)before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. ⁴ David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and ^(G)he reigned forty years. ^5 (H)At Hebron he reigned over Judah ^(I)seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.^[b]

^6 (J)And the king and his men went to Jerusalem ^(K)against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” ⁷ Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, ^(L)that is, the city of David. ⁸ And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David's soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” ⁹ And David lived in the stronghold and called it ^(M)the city of David. And David built the city all around from the ^(N)Millo inward. ¹⁰ And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

^11 (O)And ^(P)Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. ¹² And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

¹³ And David took more ^(Q)concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. ^14 (R)And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ¹⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down ^(S)to the stronghold. ¹⁸ Now the Philistines had come and spread out in ^(T)the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹ And David ^(U)inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” ²⁰ And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” ^(V)Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.^{[c] 21} And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

²² And the Philistines came up yet again ^(W)and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ^23 (X)And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. ²⁴ And ^(Y)when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, ^(Z)for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” ²⁵ And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba ^(AA)to Gezer.

Jerusalem, a Useless Vine

15 And the word of the Lord came to me: ^2 (A)“Son of man, how does ^(B)the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? ³ Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take ^(C)a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? ^4 (D)Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? ^5 (E)Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything! ⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord God: ^(F)Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, ^(G)which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ^7 (H)And I will set my face against them. Though ^(I)they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, ^(J)and you will know that I am the Lord, ^(K)when I set my face against them. ^8 (L)And I will make the land desolate, because ^(M)they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord God.”

The Collection for the Saints

16 Now concerning^{[a] (A)}the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. ² On ^(B)the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, ^(C)as he may prosper, ^(D)so that there will be no collecting when I come. ³ And when I arrive, I will send ^(E)those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

Plans for Travel

^5 (F)I will visit you after passing through ^(G)Macedonia, for ^(H)I intend to pass through Macedonia, ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may ^(I)help me on my journey, wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now ^(J)just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, ^(K)if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will stay in Ephesus until ^(L)Pentecost, ⁹ for ^(M)a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and ^(N)there are many adversaries.

^10 (O)When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for ^(P)he is doing ^(Q)the work of the Lord, as I am. ¹¹ So ^(R)let no one despise him. ^(S)Help him on his way ^(T)in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

Final Instructions

¹² Now concerning ^(U)our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will^[b] to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

^13 (V)Be watchful, ^(W)stand firm in the faith, ^(X)act like men, ^(Y)be strong. ^14 (Z)Let all that you do be done in love.

¹⁵ Now I urge you, brothers^[c]—you know that ^(AA)the household^[d] of Stephanas were ^(AB)the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves ^(AC)to the service of the saints— ^16 (AD)be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. ¹⁷ I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for ^(AE)your absence, ¹⁸ for they ^(AF)refreshed my spirit as well as yours. ^(AG)Give recognition to such people.

Greetings

¹⁹ The churches of Asia send you greetings. ^(AH)Aquila and Prisca, together with ^(AI)the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. ²⁰ All the brothers send you greetings. ^(AJ)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ I, Paul, write ^(AK)this greeting with my own hand. ²² If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be ^(AL)accursed. Our Lord, come!^{[e] 23 (AM)}The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

There Is None Who Does Good

To the choirmaster: according to ^(A)Mahalath. A Maskil^[a] of David.