2 Samuel 23:1–7

Now these are the last words of David:

The oracle of David, the son of Jesse,

the oracle of the man who was raised on high,

the anointed of the God of Jacob,

the sweet psalmist of Israel:

“The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me;

his word is on my tongue.

The God of Israel has spoken;

the Rock of Israel has said to me:

When one rules justly over men,

ruling in the fear of God,

he dawns on them like the morning light,

like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,

like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.

“For does not my house stand so with God?

For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,

ordered in all things and secure.

For will he not cause to prosper

all my help and my desire?

But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away,

for they cannot be taken with the hand;

but the man who touches them

arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear,

and they are utterly consumed with fire.”

These 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:

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me;

his word was on my tongue.

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,

he is like the light of morning at sunrise

on a cloudless morning,

like the brightness after rain

that brings grass from the earth.’

“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.

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

which are not gathered with the hand.

Whoever touches thorns

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

they are burned up where they lie.”

These are the last words of David:

The declaration of David son of Jesse,

the declaration of the man raised on high,

the one anointed by the God of Jacob.

This is the most delightful of Israel’s songs.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me,

his word was on my tongue.

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,

is like the morning light when the sun rises

on a cloudless morning,

the glisten of rain on sprouting grass.”

Is it not true my house is with God?

For he has established a permanent covenant with me,

ordered and secured in every detail.

Will he not bring about

my whole salvation and my every desire?

But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside;

they can never be picked up by hand.

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.

These are the last words of David:

“David, the son of Jesse, speaks—

David, the man who was raised up so high,

David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob,

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

“The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me;

his words are upon my tongue.

The God of Israel spoke.

The Rock of Israel said to me:

‘The one who rules righteously,

who rules in the fear of God,

is like the light of morning at sunrise,

like a morning without clouds,

like the gleaming of the sun

on new grass after rain.’

“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.

But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,

for they tear the hand that touches them.

One must use iron tools to chop them down;

they will be totally consumed by fire.”

These are the last words of David, the declaration of David the son of Jesse, and the declaration of the man exalted by the Most High, the anointed one of the God of Jacob and the darling of the songs of Israel. “The spirit of Yahweh speaks through me, and his word is upon my tongue. 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. Like the light of the morning when the sun rises, shining with no clouds, bringing vegetation from the earth apart from rain.’ 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. But evil persons are like thorns cast aside; all of them, because they cannot be picked up in the hand. 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.”

Now these be the last words of David.

David the son of Jesse said,

And the man who was raised up on high,

The anointed of the God of Jacob,

And the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

The Spirit of the Lord spake by me,

And his word was in my tongue.

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.

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.

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.

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

Because they cannot be taken with hands:

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.