2 Samuel 23:2–7

2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me;

his word was on my tongue.

3 The 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,

4 he 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.

6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,

which are not gathered with the hand.

7 Whoever touches thorns

uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;

they are burned up where they lie.”

2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me,

And his word was in my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said,

The Rock of Israel spake to me,

He that ruleth over men must be just,

Ruling in the fear of God.

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.

5 Although my house be not so with God;

Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant,

Ordered in all things, and sure:

For this is all my salvation, and all my desire,

Although he make it not to grow.

6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away,

Because they cannot be taken with hands:

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.

2 “The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me;

his words are upon my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke.

The Rock of Israel said to me:

‘The one who rules righteously,

who rules in the fear of God,

4 is like the light of morning at sunrise,

like a morning without clouds,

like the gleaming of the sun

on new grass after rain.’

5 “Is it not my family God has chosen?

Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.

His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail.

He will ensure my safety and success.

6 But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,

for they tear the hand that touches them.

7 One must use iron tools to chop them down;

they will be totally consumed by fire.”

2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,

And His word was on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said,

The Rock of Israel spoke to me:

‘He who rules over men must be just,

Ruling in the fear of God.

4 And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,

A morning without clouds,

Like the tender grass springing out of the earth,

By clear shining after rain.’

5 “Although my house is not so with God,

Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant,

Ordered in all things and secure.

For this is all my salvation and all my desire;

Will He not make it increase?

6 But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away,

Because they cannot be taken with hands.

7 But the man who touches them

Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear,

And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.”

2 “The Lord’s Spirit spoke through me,

and his word was on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke;

the Rock of Israel said to me:

‘Whoever rules fairly over people,

who rules with respect for God,

4 is like the morning light at dawn,

like a morning without clouds.

He is like sunshine after a rain

that makes the grass sprout from the ground.’

5 “This is how God has cared for my family.

God made a lasting agreement with me,

right and sure in every way.

He will accomplish my salvation

and satisfy all my desires.

6 “But all evil people will be thrown away like thorns

that cannot be held in a hand.

7 No one can touch them

except with a tool of iron or wood.

They will be thrown in the fire and burned where they lie.”

2 The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me,

And his word was upon my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said,

The Rock of Israel spake to me:

One that ruleth over men righteously,

That ruleth in the fear of God,

4 He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth,

A morning without clouds,

When the tender grass springeth out of the earth,

Through clear shining after rain.

5 Verily my house is not so with God;

Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant,

Ordered in all things, and sure:

For it is all my salvation, and all my desire,

Although he maketh it not to grow.

6 But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away,

Because they cannot be taken with the hand;

7 But the man that toucheth them

Must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear:

And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

2 The Spirit of Jehovah spoke by me, And his word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, The ruler among men shall be just, Ruling in the fear of God; 4 And he shall be as the light or the morning, like the rising of the sun, A morning without clouds; When from the sunshine, after rain, The green grass springeth from the earth. 5 Although my house be not so before •God, Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in every way and sure; For this is all my salvation, and every desire, Although he make it not to grow. 6 But the sons of Belial are all of them as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands; 7 And the man that will touch them provideth himself with iron and the staff of a spear; And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me. 

His words were on my tongue. 

3 The God of Israel spoke to them. 

The rock of Israel told me, 

‘The one who rules humans with justice rules with the fear of God. 

4 He is like the morning light as the sun rises, 

like a morning without clouds, 

like the brightness after a rainstorm. 

The rain makes the grass grow from the earth.’ 

5 “Truly, God considers my house to be that way, 

because he has made a lasting promiseto me, 

with every detail arranged and assured. 

⸤He promised⸥ everything that helps me, 

everything that pleases me. 

Truly, he makes these things happen. 

6 “Worthless people are like thorns. 

All of them are thrown away, because they cannot be picked by hand. 

7 A person who touches them uses iron ⸤tools⸥ 

or the shaft of a spear. 

Firewill burn them up completely wherever they are.” 

2 The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me,

His word was on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke;

the Rock of Israel said to me,

“The one who rules the people with justice,

who rules in the fear of God,

4 is like the morning light when the sun rises

on a cloudless morning,

the glisten of rain on sprouting grass.”

5 Is it not true my house is with God?

For He has established an everlasting covenant with me,

ordered and secured in every detail.

Will He not bring about

my whole salvation and my every desire?

6 But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside;

they can never be picked up by hand.

7 The man who touches them

must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear.

They will be completely burned up on the spot.

2 The spirit of the Lord speaks through me;

his word is upon my tongue.

3 The God of Israel has spoken;

the Rock of Israel has said to me:

“One who rules over people justly,

ruling in the fear of God,

4 is like the light of morning,

like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,

gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.”

5 Is not my house like this with God?

For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,

ordered in all things and secure.

Will he not cause to prosper

all my help and my desire?

6 But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away,

for they cannot be picked up with the hand;

7 to touch them one uses an iron bar

or the shaft of a spear.

And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot.

2 “The spirit of Yahweh speaks through me, and his word is upon my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said to me, the rock of Israel has spoken; ‘He who rules over mankind rules righteously, in the fear of God. 4 Like the light of the morning when the sun rises, shining with no clouds, bringing vegetation from the earth apart from rain.’ 5 Yet not so is my house with God, for he made an everlasting covenant for me, arranging everything. He has secured all my deliverance, and all my desire he will cause to happen. 6 But evil persons are like thorns cast aside; all of them, because they cannot be picked up in the hand. 7 And if a man wants to touch them, he must use an iron instrument or the shaft of a spear; then they are consumed entirely with fire on the spot.”

2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me.

I spoke his word with my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke.

The Rock of Israel said to me,

‘A king must rule over people in a way that is right.

He must have respect for me when he rules.

4 Then he will be like the light of morning at sunrise

when there aren’t any clouds.

He will be like the bright sun after rain

that makes the grass grow on the earth.’

5 “Isn’t my royal family right with God?

Hasn’t he made a covenant with me that will last forever?

Every part of it was well prepared and made secure.

Won’t he save me completely?

Won’t he give me everything I long for?

6 But evil people are like thorns that are thrown away.

You can’t pick them up with your hands.

7 Even if you touch them,

you must use an iron tool or a spear.

Thorns are burned up right where they are.”

2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,

And His word was on my tongue.

3 “The God of Israel said,

The Rock of Israel spoke to me,

‘He who rules over men righteously,

Who rules in the fear of God,

4 Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises,

A morning without clouds,

When the tender grass springs out of the earth,

Through sunshine after rain.’

5 “Truly is not my house so with God?

For He has made an everlasting covenant with me,

Ordered in all things, and secured;

For all my salvation and all my desire,

Will He not indeed make it grow?

6 “But the worthless, every one of them will be thrust away like thorns,

Because they cannot be taken in hand;

7 But the man who touches them

Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear,

And they will be completely burned with fire in their place.”