1. NOW THESE are the last words of David: David son of Jesse says, and the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, says,
2. The Spirit of the Lord spoke in and by me, and His word was upon my tongue.
3. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me, When one rules over men righteously, ruling in the fear of God,
4. He dawns on them like the morning light when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, when the tender grass springs out of the earth through clear shining after rain.
5. Truly does not my house stand so with God? For He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure. For will He not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?
6. But wicked, godless, and worthless lives are all like thorns to be thrust away, because they cannot be taken with the hand.
7. But the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire on the spot.
8. These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the Three [heroes], known also as Adino the Eznite; he wielded his spear and went against 800 men, who were slain at one time. [I Chron. 11:11.]
9. Next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines assembled there for battle, and the men of Israel had departed.
10. [Eleazar] arose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. The Lord wrought a great deliverance and victory that day; the men returned after him only to take the spoil.
11. Next to [Eleazar] was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered at Lehi on a piece of ground full of lentils; and the [Israelites] fled from the Philistines.
12. But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it and slew the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great victory.
13. And three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time to David in the cave of Adullam, and a troop of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
14. And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15. And David said longingly, Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate!
16. And the three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem by the gate and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.