23:1 Now these [be] the last words of David. David Ben Yishai said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the moshiach (anointed) Elohei Ya'akov, and the sweet zemirot (songs) Yisra'el, said:
23:2 The Spirit of YHWH (יהוה) spake by me, and His word [was] in my tongue.
23:3 The Elohim (אלהים) of Yisra'el said, the Tzur (Rock) of Yisra'el spake to me, He that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of Elohim (אלהים).
23:4 And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
23:5 Although my house [be] not so with Elohim (אלהים); yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all [things], and sure: for [this is] all my yishi (ישׁעי), and all [my] desire, although he make [it] not to grow.
23:6 But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
23:7 But the man [that] shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the [same] place.
23:8 These [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had: Yoshev Bashevet Tachkemoni that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same [was] Adino the Etzni: [he lift up his spear] against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
23:9 And after him [was] Ele'azar Ben Dodai ha Achochi, [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Pelishtim [that] were there Gathered together to battle, and the men of Yisra'el were gone away:
23:10 He arose, and smote the Pelishtim until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and YHWH (יהוה) wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
23:11 And after him [was] Shammah Ben Agee ha Hararite. And the Pelishtim were Gatered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Pelishtim.
23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Pelishtim: and YHWH (יהוה) wrought a great victory.
23:13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Pelishtim pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
23:14 And David [was] then in an hold, and the garrison of the Pelishtim [was] then [in] Beit Lechem.
23:15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beit Lechem, which [is] by the gate!
23:16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Pelishtim, and drew water out of the well of Beit Lechem, that [was] by the gate, and took [it], and brought [it] to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto YHWH (יהוה).
23:17 And he said, Be it far from me, O YHWH (יהוה), that I should do this: [is not this] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
23:18 And Avishai, the brother of Yo'av Ben Zeruyah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, [and] slew [them], and had the name among three.
23:19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.
23:20 And Benayah Ben Yehoyada, Ben a valiant man, of Kavtze'el, who had done many deeds, he slaughtered two lionlike men of Mo'av: he went down also and slaughtered a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
23:21 And he slaughtered a Mitzrite, a goodly man: and the Mitzrite had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Mitzrite's hand, and slaughtered him with his own spear.
23:22 These [things] did Benayah Ben Yehoyada, and had the name among three mighty men.
23:23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.
23:24 Asah-el the brother of Yo'av [was] one of the thirty; Elchanan Ben Dodo of Beit Lechem,
23:25 Shammah the Harodi, Elika ha Charodi,
23:26 Cheletz the Palti, Ira Ben Ikkesh ha Tekoi,
23:27 Aviezer ha Anethothi, Mevunai ha Chushati,
23:28 Tzalmon ha Ahochi, Maharai ha Netophati,
23:29 Chelev Ben Ba'anah, a Netophati, Ittai Ben Rivai out of Giveah of Benai Benyamin,
23:30 Benayah the Pirathoni, Hiddai of the ravines of Ga'ash,
23:31 Avi-Albon ha Arvati, Azmavet ha Barchumi,
23:32 Elyachba ha Sha'alvoni, of benai Yashen, Yonatan,
23:33 Shammah hararite, Achiam Ben Sharar ha arari,
23:34 Eliphelet Ben Achasbai, Ben ha Maachati, Eliam Ben Achitophel (אחיתפל) ha Giloni,
23:35 Chetzrai ha Carmeli, Pa'arai ha Arbi,
23:36 Yigal Ben Natan of Tzovah, Bani ha Gadi,
23:37 Tzelek ha Ammoni, Nachrai ha Be'eroti, armourbearer to Yo'av Ben Tzeruyah,
23:38 Ira a Yithri, Garev an Yitri,
23:39 Uryah the Chitti: thirty and seven in all.