Chronological
David’s Song of Praise
22 David sang this song to the Lord. He sang it when the Lord had saved him from Saul and all his other enemies. 2 He said:
“The Lord is my rock, my place of safety, my Savior.
3 My God is my rock.
I can run to him for safety.
He is my shield and my saving strength.
The Lord is my high tower and my place of safety.
The Lord saves me from those who want to harm me.
4 I will call to the Lord.
He is worthy of praise.
And I will be saved from my enemies.
5 “The waves of death came around me.
The deadly rivers overwhelmed me.
6 The ropes of death wrapped around me.
The traps of death were before me.
7 In my trouble I called to the Lord.
I cried out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice.
My call for help reached his ears.
8 “The earth trembled and shook.
The foundations of heaven began to shake.
They shook because the Lord was angry.
9 Smoke came out of his nose.
Burning fire came out of his mouth.
Burning coals went before him.
10 He tore open the sky and came down.
Dark clouds were under his feet.
11 He rode a creature with wings and flew.
He flew on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his shelter around him,
surrounded by fog and clouds.
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
came flashes of lightning.
14 The Lord thundered from heaven.
The Most High God raised his voice.
15 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies.
His bolts of lightning confused them with fear.
16 The Lord spoke strongly.
The wind blew from his nose.
The valleys of the sea appeared.
The foundations of the earth were seen.
17 “The Lord reached down from above and took me.
He pulled me from the deep water.
18 He saved me from my powerful enemies.
Those who hated me were too strong for me.
19 They attacked me at my time of trouble.
But the Lord supported me.
20 He took me to a safe place.
Because he delights in me, he saved me.
21 “The Lord spared me because I did what was right.
Because I have not done evil, he has rescued me.
22 I have followed the ways of the Lord.
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
23 I remember all his laws.
I have not broken his rules.
24 I have kept myself innocent before him.
I have kept myself from doing evil.
25 The Lord rescued me because I did what was right.
I did what the Lord said was right.
26 “Lord, you are loyal to those who are loyal.
You are good to those who are good.
27 You are pure to those who are pure.
But you are against those who are bad.
28 You save those who are not proud.
But you make humble those who are proud.
29 Lord, you give light to my lamp.
The Lord brightens the darkness around me.
30 With your help, I can attack an army.
With God’s help, I can jump over a wall.
31 “The ways of God are without fault.
The Lord’s words are pure.
He is a shield to those who trust him.
32 Who is God? Only the Lord.
Who is the Rock? Only our God.
33 God is my protection.
He makes my way free from fault.
34 He makes me like a deer, which does not stumble.
He helps me stand on the steep mountains.
35 He trains my hands for battle.
So my arms can bend a bronze bow.
36 You protect me with your saving shield.
You have stooped to make me great.
37 You give me a better way to live.
So I live as you want me to.
38 I chased my enemies and destroyed them.
I did not quit till they were destroyed.
39 I destroyed and crushed them,
so they couldn’t rise up again.
They fell beneath my feet.
40 You gave me strength in battle.
You made my enemies bow before me.
41 You made my enemies turn back.
I destroyed those who hated me.
42 They called for help,
but no one came to save them.
They called to the Lord,
but he did not answer them.
43 I beat my enemies into pieces.
They were like dust on the ground.
I pounded them out and walked on them
like mud in the streets.
44 “You saved me when my people attacked me.
You kept me as the leader of nations.
People I never knew serve me.
45 Foreigners obey me.
As soon as they hear me, they obey me.
46 They all become afraid.
They tremble in their hiding places.
47 “The Lord lives!
May my Rock be praised!
Praise God, the Rock, who saves me!
48 God gives me victory over my enemies.
He brings people under my rule.
49 He frees me from my enemies.
“You set me over those who hate me.
You saved me from cruel men.
50 So I will praise you, Lord, among the nations.
I will sing praises to your name.
51 The Lord gives great victories to his king.
He is loyal to his appointed king,
to David and his descendants forever.”
David’s Last Words
23 These are the last words of David.
This is the message of David son of Jesse.
The man made great by the Most High God speaks.
He is the appointed king of the God of Jacob.
He is the sweet singer of Israel.
2 “The Lord’s Spirit spoke through me.
His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me:
‘The person who rules fairly over people,
the person who rules with respect for God,
4 he is like the morning light at dawn.
He is like a morning without clouds.
He is like sunshine after a rain.
The sunshine makes the tender grass grow out of the ground.’
5 “This is how God has cared for my family.
God made a lasting agreement with me,
good in every way and strong.
This agreement is my salvation.
This agreement is all I want.
Truly, the Lord will make it grow.
6 “But all evil people will be thrown away like thorns.
People cannot hold on to thorns.
7 Anyone who touches them
uses a tool of iron or a spear.
They will be thrown in the fire and burned where they lie.”
David’s Army
8 These are the names of David’s warriors:
Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite, was head of the Three.[a] He killed 800 men at one time.
9 Next there was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. Eleazar was one of the three soldiers who were with David when they challenged the Philistines. The Philistines were gathered for battle, and the Israelites drew back. 10 But Eleazar stayed where he was. He fought the Philistines until he was so tired he could not let go of his sword. The Lord gave a great victory for the Israelites that day. The people came back after Eleazar had won the battle. But they came only to take weapons and armor from the enemy.
11 Next there was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines came together to fight. They stood where there was a field full of small peas. Israel’s troops ran away from the Philistines. 12 But Shammah stood in the middle of the field. He fought for the field and killed the Philistines. And the Lord gave a great victory.
13 Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief soldiers, came down to him during harvest. Now David was at the cave of Adullam. The Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in a protected place. And some of the Philistine soldiers were in Bethlehem.
15 David had a strong desire for some water. He said, “Oh, I wish someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three warriors broke through the Philistine army. They took water out of the well near the city gate of Bethlehem. Then they took it to David. But he refused to drink it. He poured it out on the ground before the Lord. 17 David said, “Lord, I can’t drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives!” So David refused to drink the water. These were the brave things that the three warriors did.
18 Abishai was the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah. He was captain of the Three. Abishai used his spear against 300 enemies and killed them. He became as famous as the Three. 19 Abishai received even more honor than the Three. He became their commander. But he was not a member of them.
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel. He did many brave things. He killed two of the best soldiers from Moab. He also went down into a pit when it was snowing. There he killed a lion. 21 Benaiah killed a big Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. But Benaiah only had a club. Benaiah grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand. Then Benaiah killed him with his own spear. 22 These were the brave things that Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He was as famous as the Three. 23 He received more honor than the Thirty. But he did not become a member of the Three. David made him leader of his bodyguard.
The Thirty Chief Soldiers
24 The following men were among the Thirty:
Asahel the brother of Joab;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
25 Shammah the Harodite;
Elika the Harodite;
26 Helez the Paltite;
Ira son of Ikkesh (from Tekoa);
27 Abiezer the Anathothite;
Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28 Zalmon the Ahohite;
Maharai the Netophathite;
29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the land of Benjamin;
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite;
Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;
31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite;
Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
the sons of Jashen;
Jonathan 33 son of Shammah the Hararite;
Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite;
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hezro the Carmelite;
Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igal son of Nathan of Zobah;
the son of Hagri;
37 Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai the Beerothite, who carried the armor of Joab son of Zeruiah;
38 Ira the Ithrite;
Gareb the Ithrite
39 and Uriah the Hittite.
There were 37 in all.
A Prayer in Troubled Times
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam of David when he escaped from Saul in a cave.
57 Be merciful to me, God. Be merciful to me
because I come to you for protection.
I will come to you as a bird comes for protection under its mother’s wings
until the trouble has passed.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to the God who does everything for me.
3 He sends help from heaven and saves me.
He punishes those who attack me. Selah
God sends me his love and truth.
4 Enemies are like lions all around me.
I must lie down among them.
Their teeth are like spears and arrows.
Their tongues are as sharp as swords.
5 God is supreme over the skies.
His greatness covers the earth.
6 They set a trap for me.
I am very worried.
They dug a pit in my path.
But they fell into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is right, God. My heart is right.
I will sing and praise you.
8 Wake up, my soul.
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.
9 Lord, I will praise you among the nations.
I will sing songs of praise about you to all the nations.
10 Your love is so great it reaches to the skies.
Your truth reaches to the clouds.
11 God, you are supreme over the skies.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.