1 These be the last sayings of David. David the son of Jesse said: and the man which is lifted up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob and pleasant Psalmist of Israel said,
2 "The spirit of the LORD spake in me, and his words were on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spake unto me, and the strength of Israel said, 'He that beareth rule over men, he that ruleth justly in the fear of God,
4 shall be as the morning light, when the sun shineth in a morning in which are no clouds to let the brightness; and as the grass of the earth is by the virtue of the rain.'
5 And is not mine house so with God? In that he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, perfect in all points. And in that he shall fulfill all that is healthsome unto me, and all my desires thereto;
6 when the unthrifty men are all of them as thorns taken out of their places, which cannot be taken with hands.
7 But the man that shall touch them must be armed with iron on a long helve. And then shall they be burned with fire to sit thereby."
8 These be the names of the mighty men that were about David: Josheb of Shebeth the Tahchemonite, first of three, otherwise called Adino the Eznite, which slew eight hundred at one time.
9 And next to him, Eleazar the son of Dodi the son of Ahohi, one of the three principal that were with David, which - when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together in battle, and the men of Israel were gone up -
10 arose and laid on the Philistines until his hand ached and clave unto the sword. And the LORD made a great victory the same day. And the people returned and went after him only to spoil.
11 After him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite, which - when the Philistines were gathered together in Lehi, where was a parcel of land full of rice, and the people were fled for fear of the Philistines -
12 stood in the midst of the said ground, and defended it and slew the Philistines. And the LORD gave him a great victory.
13 And these three of the thirty of the lords went down and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave Adullam. And the Host of the Philistines had pitched in the valley of Giants.
14 And David was then in a hold. And the soldiers of the Philistines were then in Bethlehem.
15 And David longed and said, "Oh, that I had of the water that is in the well in the gate of Bethlehem for to drink."
16 And anon the three mighty brake through the Host of the Philistines and fetched water out of the well of Bethlehem that was in the gate, and took and brought it to David: Nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but offered it unto the LORD
17 and said, "The LORD forbid that I should do so! Should I drink the blood of men that were in jeopardy of their lives?" And so he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
18 Then Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah: he was a captain over the three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and was named with the three.
19 For he was nobler man than the three and was their captain. Howbeit he attained not unto those three in acts.
20 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the son of a lusty man valiant in acts of Kabzeel, he slew two lions of Moab. He went down and slew a lion in a pit in time of snow.
21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man, which had a spear in his hand. And Benaiah went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and slew him with his own spear.
22 Such things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and was the noblest of thirty: But not like to any of the three in facts of war.
23 And David made him of his counsel.
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty. Then Elhanan, the son of Dodo of Bethlehem;
25 Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
26 Helez the Paltite; Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
27 Abiezer of Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28 Zalmon an Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
29 Heleb the son of Baanah an Netophathite; Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, a city of the children of Benjamin;
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai of the river of Gaash;
31 Abialbon the Arbathite; Azmaveth a Barhumite;
32 Eliahba a Shaalbonite; Of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan;
33 Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam the son of Sharar an Hararite;
34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai the son of a Maachathite; Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
37 Zelec an Ammonite; Naharai a Beerothite, the Harness bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah;
38 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;
39 Uriah the Hittite: in all thirty and seven.