David’s Family Grows

¹Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.

²And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had highly exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

³And David took more wives in Jerusalem and became the father of more sons and daughters.

⁴These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua,Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

⁵Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

⁶Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

⁷Elishama, Beeliada,and Eliphelet.

Two Victories over the Philistines

⁸When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went out to face them.

⁹Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁰So David inquired of God, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”“Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will deliver them into your hand.”

¹¹So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, God has burst out against my enemies by my hand.” So they called that place Baal-perazim.

¹²There the Philistines abandoned their gods, and David ordered that they be burned in the fire.

¹³Once again the Philistines raided the valley.

¹⁴So David again inquired of God, who answered him, “Do not march up after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

¹⁵As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because this will mean that God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

¹⁶So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

¹⁷And David’s fame went out into every land, and the LORD caused all nations to fear him.

David Anointed King of All Israel

¹Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

²Even in times past,while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

³So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.

David Conquers Jerusalem

⁴Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land.

⁵The people of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.”Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

⁶Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.”And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief.

⁷So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David.

⁸He built up the city around it, from the supporting terracesto the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.

⁹And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.

David’s Mighty Men

¹⁰Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.

¹¹This is the list of David’s mighty men:Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers;he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

¹²Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodothe Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.

¹³He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines.

¹⁴But Eleazar and David stationed themselvesin the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

¹⁵Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁶At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.

¹⁷David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

¹⁸So the Three broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,

¹⁹saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it.Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

²⁰Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three,and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.

²¹He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

²²And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab,and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.

²³He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall.Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.

²⁴These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men.

²⁵He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

²⁶Now these were the mighty men:Asahel the brother of Joab,Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

²⁷Shammoth the Harorite,Helez the Pelonite,

²⁸Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,Abiezer the Anathothite,

²⁹Sibbecai the Hushathite,Ilai the Ahohite,

³⁰Maharai the Netophathite,Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

³¹Ithaison of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,Benaiah the Pirathonite,

³²Huraifrom the brooksof Gaash,Abielthe Arbathite,

³³Azmaveth the Baharumite,Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

³⁴the sons of Hashemthe Gizonite,Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,

³⁵Ahiam son of Sacharthe Hararite,Eliphal son of Ur,

³⁶Hepher the Mecherathite,Ahijah the Pelonite,

³⁷Hezro the Carmelite,Naarai son of Ezbai,

³⁸Joel the brother of Nathan,Mibhar son of Hagri,

³⁹Zelek the Ammonite,Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

⁴⁰Ira the Ithrite,Gareb the Ithrite,

⁴¹Uriah the Hittite,Zabad son of Ahlai,

⁴²Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,

⁴³Hanan son of Maacah,Joshaphat the Mithnite,

⁴⁴Uzzia the Ashterathite,Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

⁴⁵Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,

⁴⁶Eliel the Mahavite,Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,Ithmah the Moabite,

⁴⁷Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

David’s Last Song

¹These are the last words of David:“The oracle of David son of Jesse,the oracle of the man raised on high,the one anointed by the God of Jacob,and the sweet psalmist of Israel:

²The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me;His word was on my tongue.

³The God of Israel spoke;the Rock of Israel said to me,‘He who rules the people with justice,who rules in the fear of God,

⁴is like the light of the morningat sunrise of a cloudless dawn,the glistening after the rainon the sprouting grass of the earth.’

⁵Is not my house right with God?For He has established with mean everlasting covenant,ordered and secured in every part.Will He not bring about my full salvationand my every desire?

⁶But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside,for they can never be gathered by hand.

⁷The man who touches them must be armed with ironor with the shaft of a spear.The fire burns them to ashesin the place where they lie.”

David’s Mighty Men

⁸These are the names of David’s mighty men:Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonitewas chief of the Three.He wielded his spear againsteight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

⁹Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodothe Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated,

¹⁰but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.

¹¹And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.

¹²But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.

¹³At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁴At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.

¹⁵David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

¹⁶So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,

¹⁷saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it.Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

¹⁸Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three,and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.

¹⁹Was he not more honored than the Three?And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

²⁰And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valorfrom Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two championsof Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.

²¹He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.

²²These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men.

²³He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

²⁴Now these were members of the Thirty:Asahel the brother of Joab,Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

²⁵Shammah the Harodite,Elika the Harodite,

²⁶Helez the Paltite,Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

²⁷Abiezer the Anathothite,Mebunnaithe Hushathite,

²⁸Zalmon the Ahohite,Maharai the Netophathite,

²⁹Heledson of Baanah the Netophathite,Ittaison of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,

³⁰Benaiah the Pirathonite,Hiddaifrom the brooksof Gaash,

³¹Abi-albon the Arbathite,Azmaveth the Barhumite,

³²Eliahba the Shaalbonite,the sons of Jashen,Jonathan

³³son of Shammahthe Hararite,Ahiam son of Shararthe Hararite,

³⁴Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite,Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

³⁵Hezro the Carmelite,Paarai the Arbite,

³⁶Igal son of Nathan of Zobah,Bani the Gadite,

³⁷Zelek the Ammonite,Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

³⁸Ira the Ithrite,Gareb the Ithrite,

³⁹and Uriah the Hittite.There were thirty-seven in all.

Delight Yourself in the LORD

¹Do not fret over those who do evil;do not envy those who do wrong.

²For they wither quickly like grassand wilt like tender plants.

³Trust in the LORD and do good;dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

⁴Delight yourself in the LORD,and He will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵Commit your way to the LORD;trust in Him, and He will do it.

⁶He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn,your justice like the noonday sun.

⁷Be still before the LORDand wait patiently for Him;do not fret when men prosper in their ways,when they carry out wicked schemes.

⁸Refrain from anger and abandon wrath;do not fret—it can only bring harm.

⁹For the evildoers will be cut off,but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

¹⁰Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;though you look for them, they will not be found.

¹¹But the meek will inherit the landand delight in abundant prosperity.

¹²The wicked scheme against the righteousand gnash their teeth at them,

¹³but the Lord laughs,seeing that their day is coming.

¹⁴The wicked have drawn the swordand bent the bowto bring down the poor and needy,to slay those whose ways are upright.

¹⁵But their swords will pierce their own hearts,and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶Better is the little of the righteousthan the abundance of many who are wicked.

¹⁷For the arms of the wicked will be broken,but the LORD upholds the righteous.

¹⁸The LORD knows the days of the blameless,and their inheritance will last forever.

¹⁹In the time of evil they will not be ashamed,and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

²⁰But the wicked and enemies of the LORDwill perish like the glory of the fields.They will vanish;like smoke they will fade away.

²¹The wicked borrow and do not repay,but the righteous are gracious and giving.

²²Surely those He blesses will inherit the land,but the cursed will be destroyed.

²³The steps of a man are ordered by the LORDwho takes delight in his journey.

²⁴Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,for the LORD is holding his hand.

²⁵I once was young and now am old,yet never have I seen the righteous abandonedor their children begging for bread.

²⁶They are ever generous and quick to lend,and their children are a blessing.

²⁷Turn away from evil and do good,so that you will abide forever.

²⁸For the LORD loves justiceand will not forsake His saints.They are preserved forever,but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

²⁹The righteous will inherit the landand dwell in it forever.

³⁰The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,and his tongue speaks justice.

³¹The law of his God is in his heart;his steps do not falter.

³²Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous,and seek to slay them,

³³the LORD will not leave them in their poweror let them be condemned under judgment.

³⁴Wait for the LORD and keep His way,and He will raise you up to inherit the land.When the wicked are cut off,you will see it.

³⁵I have seen a wicked, ruthless manflourishing like a well-rooted native tree,

³⁶yet he passed away and was no more;though I searched, he could not be found.

³⁷Consider the blameless and observe the upright,for posterity awaits the man of peace.

³⁸But the transgressors will all be destroyed;the future of the wicked will be cut off.

³⁹The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;He is their stronghold in time of trouble.

⁴⁰The LORD helps and delivers them;He rescues and saves them from the wicked,because they take refuge in Him.