David’s last words
1These are the last words of David:
‘The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,
the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High,
the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
the hero of Israel’s songs:
2‘The 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:
“When one rules over people in righteousness,
when he rules in the fear of God,
4he is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings grass from the earth.”
5‘If my house were not right with God,
surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,
arranged and secured in every part;
surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
and grant me my every desire.
6But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,
which are not gathered with the hand.
7Whoever touches thorns
uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
they are burned up where they lie.’
David’s mighty warriors
8These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:
Josheb-Basshebeth,23:8 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts suggest Ish-Bosheth, that is, Esh-Baal (see also 1 Chron. 11:11 Jashobeam). a Tahkemonite,23:8 Probably a variant of Hakmonite (see 1 Chron. 11:11) was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed23:8 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:11); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Three; it was Adino the Eznite who killed eight hundred men in one encounter.
9Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim23:9 See 1 Chron. 11:13; Hebrew gathered there. for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, 10but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
11Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.
13During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison 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 warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17‘Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!’ he said. ‘Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?’ And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
18Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.23:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Thirty He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19Was he not held in greater honour than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
20Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23He was held in greater honour than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24Among the Thirty were:
Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
25Shammah the Harodite,
Elika the Harodite,
26Helez the Paltite,
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
27Abiezer from Anathoth,
Sibbekai23:27 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 21:18; 1 Chron. 11:29); Hebrew Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28Zalmon the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite,
29Heled23:29 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chron. 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,
30Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Hiddai23:30 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:32) Hurai from the ravines of Gaash,
31Abi-Albon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan 33son of23:33 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:34); Hebrew does not have son of. Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam son of Sharar23:33 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:35) Sakar the Hararite,
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35Hezro the Carmelite,
Paarai the Arbite,
36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,
the son of Hagri,23:36 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:38); Hebrew Haggadi
37Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite, the armour-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
38Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite
39and Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
Mawu Otsiriza a Davide
1Nawa mawu otsiriza a Davide:
“Mawu a Davide mwana wa Yese,
mawu a munthu amene wakwezedwa ndi Wammwambamwamba,
munthu wodzozedwa ndi Mulungu wa Yakobo,
woyimba nyimbo za Israeli:
2“Mzimu wa Yehova unayankhula kudzera mwa ine;
mawu ake anali pakamwa panga.
3Mulungu wa Israeli anayankhula,
Thanthwe la Israeli linati kwa ine:
‘Pamene munthu alamulira anthu mwachilungamo,
pamene alamulira moopa Mulungu,
4amakhala ngati kuwala kwa mmamawa,
mmawa wopanda mitambo,
monga kuwala pamene mvula yaleka kugwa
imene imameretsa udzu mʼnthaka.’
5“Kodi banja langa silolungama pamaso pa Mulungu?
Kodi Iye sanachite pangano losatha ndi ine,
lokonzedwa ndi lotetezedwa mbali zonse?
Kodi sadzakwaniritsa chipulumutso changa,
ndi kundipatsa chokhumba changa chilichonse?
6Koma anthu oyipa ndiwo ayenera kutayidwa kunja ngati minga,
imene sitengedwa ndi manja.
7Aliyense amene wayikhudza mingayo
amayidula pogwiritsa ntchito chigwandali kapena ndodo ya mkondo;
nayitentha pa moto.”
Ankhondo Otchuka a Davide
8Nawa mayina a ankhondo amphamvu a Davide:
Yosebu-Basebeti wa ku Takemoni mkulu wa atsogoleri a ankhondo atatu. Iye anapha ndi mkondo ankhondo 800 nthawi imodzi.
9Wotsatana naye anali Eliezara mwana wa Dodo Mwahohi. Monga mmodzi mwa ankhondo atatu amphamvu a Davide, iye anali ndi Davide pamene anazunza Afilisti amene anasonkhana ku Pasi-Damimu kuchita nkhondo. Kenaka ankhondo a Israeli anabwerera mʼmbuyo. 10Koma iye anayima osasuntha ndipo anakantha Afilisti mpaka mkono wake unatopa ndipo unakanirira ku lupanga lake. Yehova anapereka chigonjetso chachikulu pa tsiku limenelo. Asilikali anabwerera kwa Eliezara, kukatenga katundu wa anthu ophedwa.
11Wotsatana naye anali Sama mwana wa Age Mharari. Pamene Afilisti anasonkhana pamalo pamene panali munda wa mphodza, ankhondo a Israeli anathawa Afilistiwo. 12Koma Sama anayima pakati pa mundawo. Iye anawuteteza nakantha Afilistiwo ndipo Yehova anawapambanitsa koposa.
13Pa nthawi yokolola, atatu mwa atsogoleri makumi atatu anabwera kwa Davide ku phanga la Adulamu, pamene gulu la Afilisti linali litamanga misasa mʼchigwa cha Refaimu. 14Nthawi imeneyo Davide anali mu linga, ndipo boma la Afilisti linali ku Betelehemu. 15Davide analakalaka madzi ndipo anati, “Haa, pakanapezeka munthu wokanditungira madzi a mʼchitsime chomwe chili pafupi ndi chipata cha ku Betelehemu!” 16Choncho anthu amphamvu atatuwa anadutsa mizere ya Afilisti, natunga madzi amene anali mʼchitsime chomwe chinali pafupi ndi chipata cha ku Betelehemu nabwera nawo kwa Davide. Koma iye anakana kumwa. Mʼmalo mwake anathira pansi pamaso pa Yehova. 17Iye anati, “Inu Yehova, musalole kuti ine ndichite chinthu ichi! Kodi awa si magazi a anthu amene anayika miyoyo yawo pachiswe?” Ndipo Davide sanamwe madziwo.
Zimenezi ndi zimene anachita anthu amphamvu atatuwo.
18Abisai mʼbale wa Yowabu mwana wa Zeruya ndiye anali mtsogoleri wa anthu atatuwa. Iye anapha ndi mkondo ankhondo 300, choncho iyeyo anali wotchuka pakati pa anthu atatu aja. 19Kodi iyeyo sanali wolemekezeka koposa? Iye anakhala mtsogoleri wawo ngakhale kuti sanali mʼgulu la anthu atatu aja.
20Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada wa ku Kabizeeli anali munthu wolimba mtima amene anachita zinthu zamphamvu. Iye anakantha ankhondo awiri otchuka a ku Mowabu. Tsiku lina kukuzizira kwambiri, iye analowa mʼdzenje ndi kuphamo mkango. 21Ndipo iye anakanthanso Mwigupto wamkulu msinkhu. Ngakhale kuti Mwiguptoyo anali ndi mkondo mʼdzanja mwake, Benaya anapita kukamenyana naye ali ndi chibonga chokha mʼmanja. Iye analanda mkondo mʼdzanja la Mwiguptoyo ndi kumupha ndi mkondo wake womwe. 22Izi ndi zamphamvu zimene Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada anachita. Iyeyo analinso wotchuka ngati anthu atatu amphamvu aja. 23Iye ankalemekezedwa kuposa wina aliyense mwa anthu makumi atatu aja, koma sanali mʼgulu la anthu atatu aja. Ndipo Davide anamuyika kukhala woyangʼanira asilikali omuteteza.
24Mʼgulu la anthu makumi atatu aja munalinso awa:
Asaheli mʼbale wa Yowabu,
Elihanani mwana wa Dodo wa ku Betelehemu,
25Sama Mharodi,
Elika Mherodi,
26Helezi Mpaliti,
Ira mwana wa Ikesi wa ku Tekowa,
27Abiezeri wa ku Anatoti,
Sibekai Mhusati,
28Zalimoni Mwahohi,
Maharai Mnetofa,
29Heledi mwana wa Baana Mnetofa,
Itai mwana wa Ribai wa ku Gibeya ku Benjamini,
30Benaya Mpiratoni,
Hidayi wa ku zigwa za Gaasi.
31Abi-Aliboni Mwaribati,
Azimaveti Mbarihumi,
32Eliyahiba Msaaliboni,
ana a Yaseni,
Yonatani, 33mwana wa Sama Mharari,
Ahiamu mwana wa Sarari Mharari,
34Elifeleti mwana wa Ahasibai Mmaakati,
Eliamu mwana wa Ahitofele Mgiloni,
35Heziro wa ku Karimeli,
Paarai Mwaribi,
36Igala mwana wa Natani wa ku Zoba,
mwana wa Hagiri,
37Zeleki Mwamoni,
Naharai wa ku Beeroti, mnyamata wonyamula zida za Yowabu mwana wa Zeruya,
38Ira Mwitiri,
Garebu Mwitiri,
39ndi Uriya Mhiti.
Onse pamodzi analipo 37.
