David’s Last Words

23 These are the last words of David:

The declaration of David son of Jesse,(A)
the declaration of the man raised on high,[a]
the one anointed by the God of Jacob.(B)
This is the most delightful of Israel’s songs.
The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me,
his word was on my tongue.(C)
The God of Israel spoke;
the Rock of Israel said to me,
“The one who rules the people with justice,
who rules in the fear of God,(D)
is like the morning light when the sun rises
on a cloudless morning,
the glisten of rain on sprouting grass.”

Is it not true my house is with God?
For he has established a permanent covenant(E) with me,
ordered and secured in every detail.(F)
Will he not bring about
my whole salvation and my every desire?
But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside;
they can never be picked up by hand.
The man who touches them
must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear.
They will be completely burned up on the spot.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:1 Or raised up by the high God

David’s Oracle

23 This was David’s last composition:

The oracle of David, son of Jesse,
    an oracle by the valiant one who was exalted—
anointed by the God of Jacob,
    the contented psalm writer of Israel.

The Spirit of the Lord speaks within[a] me;
    his word is on my tongue!
The God of Israel has spoken;
    the Rock of Israel has talked to me.
“When one is governing men justly,
    he fears God while governing.
He is like dawn’s first[b] light,
    like bright sun blazing on a cloudless morning,
        glistening on grassland that flourishes after a rain shower.

Is not my dynasty[c] like this with God?
    Has he not made an eternal covenant with me,
        preparing every detail of it?
And he has made it secure,
    including my complete[d] salvation, has he not?
He has been of continual [e] help, has he not,
    even with respect to all of my desires?

But ungodly men[f] are like thorns that are discarded
    because they cannot be safely[g] handled.
Whoever handles them
    wears heavy duty clothing,[h]
carries strong tools,[i]
    and burns them to ashes on the spot![j]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:2 Or through
  2. 2 Samuel 23:4 The Heb. lacks first
  3. 2 Samuel 23:5 Lit. house
  4. 2 Samuel 23:5 Lit. including all of my
  5. 2 Samuel 23:5 Lit. He has been all
  6. 2 Samuel 23:6 Lit. But Belial
  7. 2 Samuel 23:6 The Heb. lacks safely
  8. 2 Samuel 23:7 Lit. arms himself with iron
  9. 2 Samuel 23:7 Lit. and a spear shaft
  10. 2 Samuel 23:7 Lit. ashes where they sit