1 These are David's last words: "The declaration of David son of Jesse, the declaration of the man raised on high, the anointed one of the God of Jacob, Israel's pleasant singer of songs:
2 The Spirit of the LORD has spoken through me; his word is upon my tongue.
3 The God of Israel has said, the Rock of Israel has told me: 'He who rules over men in righteousness, who rules in the fear of God,
4 is like the morning light when the sun comes up, a morning with no clouds, like the fresh grass from the earth through clear shining after rain.'
5 Is not my house so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, set in order in every part and kept secure. Will he not make all my salvation and all my desire spring up?
6 But worthless men are all like thorns tossed aside, for no one picks them up by hand;
7 whoever touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are burned up completely in the fire where they lie."
8 These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite, chief of the officers; he was called Adino the Eznite, for eight hundred slain at one time.
9 After him was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi, one of the three mighty men with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered there for battle, while the men of Israel went up and away.
10 He stood his ground and struck down Philistines until his hand grew tired and stuck to the sword. The LORD won a great victory that day, and the troops came back after him only to strip the dead.
11 After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered into a band where there was a plot of field full of lentils, and the troops fled from the Philistines.
12 But he planted himself in the middle of the plot, held it, and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD won a great victory.
13 Three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was then in Bethlehem.
15 David felt a craving and said, "If only someone would get me a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!"
16 The three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David. But he would not drink it; he poured it out to the LORD,
17 saying, "LORD, far be it from me to do this! Is it not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" And he would not drink it. Such were the deeds of the three mighty men.
18 Abishai, Joab's brother, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He swung his spear over three hundred slain, and he won a name among the three.
19 Was he not the most honored of the three? He became their commander, but he did not reach the three.
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, was a man of great deeds. He struck down the two heroes of Moab. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
21 He struck down an Egyptian, a man of striking appearance. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a club, wrenched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.
22 Such were the deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he won a name among the three mighty men.
23 He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not reach the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24 Among the thirty were Asahel, Joab's brother; 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 from Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28 Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai from Netophah;
29 Heleb son of Baanah, from Netophah; Ittai son of Ribai, from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin;
30 Benaiah from Pirathon; Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;
31 Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan;
33 Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai, son of the Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hezrai from Carmel; Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igal son of Nathan, from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai from Beeroth, armor-bearer to Joab son of Zeruiah;
38 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;
39 and Uriah the Hittite. Thirty-seven in all.